How to Insert or Type an Upside Down Exclamation Mark in Word (5 Ways to Insert ¡ with Shortcuts)

Insert or Type an Inverted Exclamation Mark in Word

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated March 21, 2026

Applies to: Microsoft^® Word^® 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024 or 365 (Windows)

This guide covers five easy ways to insert or type the upside down exclamation mark (¡) in Microsoft Word including shortcuts, Alt codes and custom key combinations. The upside down exclamation mark or inverted exclamation mark is used in the Spanish language at the beginning of exclamatory sentences and helps readers understand tone before completing the sentence.

Use Insert Symbol to insert an upside down exclamation mark
Use an Alt code keyboard shortcut to insert an upside down exclamation mark (fastest method with numeric keypad)
Use a Ctrl key shortcut to insert an inverted exclamation mark
Create a custom keyboard shortcut to insert an upside down exclamation mark (no numeric keypad required)
Copy and paste an inverted exclamation mark
Final thoughts

Note: We are using a US keyboard layout but the strategies and shortcuts apply to English Canada keyboards. Keyboard shortcuts may work differently depending on your keyboard layout / language.

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Use Insert Symbol to insert an upside down exclamation mark

You can use the Insert Symbol command to insert special characters in Word documents.

To insert an upside down exclamation mark symbol using Insert Symbol:

Position the cursor in the Word document where you want to insert an upside down exclamation mark.
Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
In the Symbols group, click Symbol. A drop-down menu appears.
Click More Symbols. A dialog box appears.
If necessary, click the Symbols tab.
Select (normal text) from the Font drop-down menu.
Choose Latin-1 Supplement from the subset menu on the top right.
Click the upside down or inverted exclamation mark.
Click Insert.
Click Close.

Below is the Insert Symbol dialog box in Word:

You can insert many other special characters using Insert Symbol including accents and Wingdings characters.

Use an Alt code keyboard shortcut to insert an upside down exclamation mark (fastest method with numeric keypad)

You can press the Alt key in combination with numbers on the numeric keypad to insert special characters and symbols.

To insert an upside down or inverted exclamation mark using an Alt code shortcut:

Position the cursor in the Word document where you want to insert an upside down exclamation mark.
Press Alt + 0161 on the numeric keypad.

You will need to press the numbers in sequence. If the sequence doesn't work, press the NumLock key on the numeric keypad. If you don't have a numeric keypad, you may be able to press the Fn key and access the numbers at the top of your keyboard.

Use a Ctrl key shortcut to insert an inverted exclamation mark

To use a Ctrl key shortcut to insert an inverted or upside down exclamation mark:

Position the cursor in the Word document where you want to insert an upside down exclamation mark.
Press Ctrl + Alt + Shift + 1. The 1 at the top of the keyboard is also the ! key.

You will need to press all of the keys together at the same time. If this shortcut doesn't work on your keyboard, you can try creating a custom shortcut instead

Create a custom keyboard shortcut to insert an upside down exclamation mark (no numeric keypad required)

To create a custom keyboard shortcut to insert an upside down exclamation mark:

Position the cursor in the Word document where you want to insert an upside down exclamation mark.
Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
In the Symbols group, click Symbol. A drop-down menu appears.
Click More Symbols. A dialog box appears.
If necessary, click the Symbols tab.
Select (normal text) from the Font drop-down menu.
Choose Latin-1 Supplement from the subset menu on the top right.
Click the upside down or inverted exclamation mark.
Click Shortcut. A dialog box appears.
In the Press new shortcut key box, press the keys you want to use (such as Ctrl + Shift + 1).
Click Assign.
Click Close twice.

You will now be able to use your new shortcut key in any Word document.

Below is the Customize Keyboard dialog box in Word:

Copy and paste an inverted exclamation mark

To copy and paste an inverted exclamation mark (¡):

Select the upside down exclamation mark in this article by dragging over it.
Press Ctrl + C to copy it.
Open the Word document and navigate to the location where you want to insert the character.
Press Ctrl + V to paste the upside down exclamation mark.

Final thoughts

If you are not inserting this character often, the Insert Symbol method is simple and you won't need to remember any shortcuts.

If you are regularly working in another language, you can change your keyboard layout to a different language.

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