Tilde: ñ, ã, õ and combining U+0303

Uses and scope

Spanish ñ is an alphabet letter. Portuguese uses ã and õ, while Vietnamese uses tilde for the ngã tone. Unicode also records nasalization uses in phonetic notation. The sign therefore has to be interpreted within the language or transcription system, rather than assigned a single meaning everywhere. [19], [23], [45], [4], [3]

Similar shapes, different characters

An ASCII tilde following n does not encode ñ. Greek perispomeni may look wavy but uses a different combining character. Combining tilde overlay U+0334 passes through a base instead of sitting above it. Compatibility normalization may transform a spacing sign without making the original sequence the same as a precomposed letter. [1], [2], [19], [23], [45], [4], [3]

Typing and text forms

Copying is exact; preview circles are excluded. Compare normalization forms.

Word for Windows

Select a hex code, then Alt+X; repeat for each scalar.

Mac and mobile

Hold a letter for supported variants; use Character Viewer on Mac or a language keyboard on mobile.

HTML

Use UTF-8 text or the numeric references in Details, in order.

Full typing instructions ·HTML, CSS and JavaScript entry ·Verified Alt codes.

Sources and method

Usage statements link to the authority that supports their scope. Character names, categories, combining classes and normalization results come from the pinned Unicode data. A canonical decomposition does not establish language membership or spelling frequency.

Source access date: 2026-09-14.

• [4] Unicode combining mark names and annotations. Names, cross references and narrowly attributed usage annotations. Historical annotations are not automatically current recommendations.
• [19] RAE and ASALE: Spanish alphabet. Alphabetic status of ñ; accented vowels are not additional alphabet letters.
• [23] Portuguese Orthographic Agreement. Bases on accentuation, tilde, cedilla and removal of ordinary Portuguese diaeresis, with proper-name exceptions.
• [45] Northern Illinois University: Vietnamese tones. Six Vietnamese tone categories and example spellings. Detailed pitch descriptions are not generalized across dialects.
• [3] Unicode 17: Latin, Greek and combining marks. Sections 7.1, 7.2, 7.8 and 7.9: encoded distinctions, script conventions and glyph variation, not a complete orthography.
• [1] Unicode Character Database 17.0.0.
• [2] Unicode normalization, UAX #15.
• [10] Microsoft: Unicode character entry in Word.
• [11] Apple: enter characters with accent marks.
• [12] Google: use Gboard.
• [13] Unicode: fonts and keyboards FAQ.
• [14] HTML numeric character references.

Read the editorial method and inspect the underlying datasets.