Ç, ç (C Cedilla) – How to Type C with Tail, Alt Code, Meaning

Q: What is the cedilla called in French?

It's called a "cédille ", and the letter "ç" is referred to as "c cédille ".

Q: What is the cedilla called in Portuguese?

It's called "cedilha ", and the letter "ç" is called "c cedilha ".

Q: What is the Alt code for Ç?

On Windows, hold Alt and type 0199 on the numeric keypad for the uppercase Ç, or 0231 for the lowercase ç.

Q: What is c with a tail called?

It's officially called a cedilla , though many people search for it as "c with a tail" or "c with the tail" because of the small hook shape underneath the C.

The letter Ç (C cedilla) is a modified version of the letter C used in French, Portuguese, Turkish, and other languages. In French and Portuguese, it represents a soft “s” sound (façade, ça va), while in Turkish it represents a “ch” sound (çay).

If you’re wondering how to type Ç (uppercase) or ç (lowercase) on your keyboard, this guide covers Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android, and Microsoft Word — plus Alt codes, Unicode, and HTML entities.

What Is a Cedilla Symbol (¸)?

A cedilla (¸) is a diacritical mark that looks like a small tail placed under the letter “C” to form Ç or ç.

“C cedilla” is the English term.
“C cédille” is the French version.
“C cedilha” is the Portuguese version.

A cedilla is distinct from a comma: a comma sits beside or below a line of text, whereas a cedilla is permanently attached to the bottom baseline of the letter C. Both uppercase and lowercase variants follow the same typing rules, using the Shift key (or equivalent) for capitals.

How to Type Ç (C with Cedilla) on Different Devices and Operating Systems

Both forms follow the exact same typing methods for C Cedilla below — the only difference is holding Shift (or its equivalent) for the capital Ç. Each method in this guide shows both cases.

1. How to Type Ç on Windows

Alt Codes (Numeric Keypad):
- Uppercase Ç: Hold down the Alt key and type 0199 on your numeric keypad, then release.
- Lowercase ç: Hold down the Alt key and type 0231 on your numeric keypad, then release.
Character Map Tool:
1. Open the Windows Start menu and search for Character Map (charmap.exe).
2. Type “cedilla” into the search query box or manually locate the ç character from the grid.
3. Click Select, copy it to your clipboard, and paste it (Ctrl + V) into your target document.

2. How to Type Ç on Mac

Lowercase ç: Press and hold the Option key, then press c.
Uppercase Ç: Press and hold Shift + Option + C.

Character	Mac Shortcut
ç (Lowercase)	`Option + C`
Ç (Uppercase)	`Shift + Option + C`

3. How to Type Ç in Microsoft Word

Keyboard shortcut
- Place the cursor where you want to insert the c with cedilla.
- Press and hold Ctrl + , (comma)
- Release both keys.
- Press the letter c (or Shift + C for the capital Ç).
Insert Symbol
1. Click on the “Insert” tab at the top of the page.
2. Click on “Symbol” and select “More Symbols”.
3. In the “Subset” drop-down menu, select “Latin-1 Supplement”.
4. Find ç or Ç, click Insert.

4. How to Type C cedilla Ç on Linux

Unicode Method: Press and hold Ctrl + Shift + U, type e7 (lowercase) or c7 (uppercase), and press Enter.
Compose Key: Press your designated system Compose key, followed by , (comma), then c (or C).

5. How to Type C cedilla Ç on Mobile Devices (iPhone & Android)

Tap any text input field to open your virtual software keyboard.
Long-press the letter c key until a small popup menu displaying accented variations appears.
Slide your finger across the screen to highlight and select ç (tap the Shift key first if you require the capital Ç).

Typing Ç on French and Portuguese Keyboards

Physical hardware keyboards configured explicitly for regional layouts include dedicated keys for cedillas:

French (AZERTY): The lowercase ç is located on the unshifted 9 key in the top numeric row. Generating a capital Ç typically requires modifier key combinations like AltGr.
Portuguese (ABNT2 / Portugal): The ç sits directly on the home row, positioned immediately to the right of the L key.

Standard US and UK QWERTY keyboards lack a dedicated physical key, necessitating the software shortcuts or Alt codes detailed above.

Reference Tables: Codes, Entities, and Comparisons

Universal Codes for Ç and ç

Character	Unicode	HTML Named Entity	HTML Decimal	Developer Escaped (JS/Python)
Ç (Uppercase)	`U+00C7`	`Ç`	`Ç`	`\u00C7`
ç (Lowercase)	`U+00E7`	`ç`	`ç`	`\u00E7`

Ç vs. C: Key Differences

Feature	C	Ç (C Cedilla)
Pronunciation	Hard (/k/) or soft (/s/) based on context	Always soft (/s/) or “ch” in Turkish
Diacritical Mark	None	Cedilla hook (¸) positioned below
Language Spread	Universal across Latin alphabets	Romance and Turkic linguistic families

When to Use Ç in Spelling?

French Spelling Guidelines: Never use ç at the absolute beginning of a word; there are no native French words that initiate with this letter.
Turkish Spelling Guidelines: The letter ç appears freely at the beginning, middle, or end of words.
Cedilla vs. Caron (ç vs. č): Do not mistake ç for the Slavic caron/háček (č), which features a small “v” diacritical shape above the letter and is utilized in languages like Czech and Croatian to represent a distinct “ch” sound.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cedilla called in French?

It’s called a “cédille“, and the letter “ç” is referred to as “c cédille“.

What’s the difference between ç and č?

ç = C with cedilla (used in French, Portuguese, etc.)
č = C with caron (used in Slavic languages like Czech, pronounced like ch)

What is the cedilla called in Portuguese?

It’s called “cedilha“, and the letter “ç” is called “c cedilha“.

What is the Alt code for Ç?

On Windows, hold Alt and type 0199 on the numeric keypad for the uppercase Ç, or 0231 for the lowercase ç.

Is ç pronounced the same in French and Turkish?

No. In French and Portuguese, ç makes a soft “s” sound. In Turkish, ç makes a “ch” sound, as in çay (tea).

What is c with a tail called?

It’s officially called a cedilla, though many people search for it as “c with a tail” or “c with the tail” because of the small hook shape underneath the C.