Latin Small Letter A With Macron Letter
ā is the Latin small letter a with a macron, used to mark a long vowel in many languages.
U+0101
The symbol “ā” is a Unicode character: LATIN SMALL LETTER A WITH MACRON (U+0101). It’s commonly used in text that needs a marked long “a” sound or specific transliteration.
Latin Small Letter A With Macron Letter Meaning
“ā” is the lowercase form of “a” with a macron (a horizontal line above it). In many writing systems and romanization/transliteration schemes, a macron indicates that the vowel is long. This can affect pronunciation and can be important for spelling accuracy in linguistic notes, dictionaries, and scholarly or educational materials. The character is also used stylistically in names, terms, and regulated orthographies where vowel length is meaningful. When writing in HTML/CSS/JavaScript, you can reliably reproduce it using its Unicode code point U+0101 or the provided escape forms.
Common uses
- •Marking a long “a” vowel in romanization or transliteration
- •Typing linguistics and language-learning materials with accurate vowel length
- •Using diacritics in proper spelling for words that require macron notation
- •Presenting dictionary entries, glosses, or pronunciation guides
- •Ensuring correct text rendering in web content and UI labels
Examples
ā — Latin small letter a with macron
- āmāori ātea
- āThe vowel is long: ā
- āPronounce *ā* as a long “a”.
- āKāinga and mana are spelled with macrons.
- āIn transliteration, long vowels use ā ē ī ō ū.
Variations
Technical codes
| Unicode | U+0101 | |
| HTML Entity | ā | |
| HTML Code | ā | |
| CSS | \0101 | |
| Alt Code | Alt + 257 | |
| Decimal | 257 |
How to type Latin Small Letter A With Macron Letter (ā)
On Windows
Hold Alt and type 257 on the numeric keypad. In Word, type 0101 then press Alt + X.
On Mac
Switch to the Unicode Hex Input keyboard, then hold Option and type 0101. Or press Control + Command + Space and search.
On Linux
Press Control + Shift + U, type 0101, then press Enter or Space.
Anywhere
Copy ā with the button above and paste it wherever you need it — this works on every device and in every app, with no keyboard shortcut to remember.
FAQ
What does the Latin Small Letter A With Macron letter mean?
“ā” is the lowercase form of “a” with a macron (a horizontal line above it). In many writing systems and romanization/transliteration schemes, a macron indicates that the vowel is long. This can affect pronunciation and can be important for spelling accuracy in linguistic notes, dictionaries, and scholarly or educational materials. The character is also used stylistically in names, terms, and regulated orthographies where vowel length is meaningful. When writing in HTML/CSS/JavaScript, you can reliably reproduce it using its Unicode code point U+0101 or the provided escape forms.
What Unicode character is “ā”?
“ā” is LATIN SMALL LETTER A WITH MACRON, Unicode code point U+0101.
How do I copy and paste ā?
Copy the character “ā” directly from this page, or use the provided HTML entity (ā) / Unicode escapes in code.
How can I type ā on the web using HTML and JavaScript?
In HTML use ā. In JavaScript you can use \\u{0101} (or set the string to the literal character if your editor supports it).
Does ā always mean a long vowel?
In many romanization and orthographic systems, the macron indicates a long vowel. Always follow the specific language or transcription convention you’re using.