How to Type the Euro Symbol (€) on Your Keyboard: Quick and Easy Methods

The euro symbol (€) is essential for anyone working with European currencies or culture. While it’s a standard character, it’s not always immediately obvious how to type it on different operating systems. If you’re using Ubuntu, you have a couple of efficient methods at your disposal to easily input the euro symbol whenever you need it. This guide will walk you through two straightforward techniques to ensure you can type the euro symbol (€) effortlessly on your Ubuntu system.

Method 1: Leveraging the Compose Key for the Euro Symbol

The Compose Key method is a versatile way to type a wide range of special characters, including the euro symbol (€), using short, memorable sequences. Think of it as a shortcut key that allows you to “compose” characters not directly available on your keyboard.

Compose Key Sequences for €:

To type the euro symbol using the Compose Key, you can use either of these sequences:

• Compose Key + c + =
• Compose Key + e + =

Interestingly, the order in which you type ‘c’ or ‘e’ and ‘=’ after the Compose Key doesn’t matter. Therefore, these combinations will also work:

• Compose Key + = + c
• Compose Key + = + e

Setting up the Compose Key on Ubuntu (Version 13.10 and later):

If you are using Ubuntu version 13.10 or a more recent version, setting up the Compose Key is quite simple:

1. Navigate to your system settings by clicking on the system menu and selecting System Settings.
2. Open the Keyboard settings. You might find this directly under “System Settings” or within a sub-menu like Text Entry depending on your Ubuntu version. Look for options related to keyboard shortcuts or typing.
3. In the Keyboard settings window, locate and select the Typing tab or section, usually found in the left-hand column or top navigation.
4. Find the Compose Key option. It might be listed under “General” or “Options” within the Typing settings. Click on the current setting (which might be “disabled” or a default key).
5. A pop-up list will appear, presenting you with various keys you can assign as the Compose Key. A popular and convenient choice is the Right Alt key, as it’s often unused for other primary functions and easily accessible. Select Right Alt or your preferred key from the list.
6. Close the Keyboard settings window. Your chosen key is now set as the Compose Key.

Setting up the Compose Key on Older Ubuntu Versions:

For users on older Ubuntu versions, the process is slightly different but still straightforward:

1. Access your system settings and go to Keyboard Layout. This might be directly under “System Settings” or in a “Hardware” section.
2. Click on Options within the Keyboard Layout settings.
3. Expand the Compose Key Position list by clicking on it. This will reveal a dropdown menu with various key options.
4. Choose your desired key to function as the Compose Key from the list. Again, Right Alt is a common and recommended choice.
5. Close the Keyboard Layout settings. The selected key is now configured as your Compose Key.

Once you have set up the Compose Key using either of these methods, you can test it out by pressing your chosen Compose Key followed by ‘c’ and then ‘=’ (or ‘e’ and then ‘=’) to type the euro symbol (€).

Method 2: Utilizing the Alternative Characters Key

The Alternative Characters Key method offers another way to access special characters, including the euro symbol, using a two-character sequence. This method can be a bit more involved to set up initially but provides a direct shortcut once configured.

Configuration using dconf-editor:

This method requires the dconf-editor tool. If you don’t have it installed, you can install it using the terminal with the command: sudo apt-get install dconf-editor

1. Set the Alternative Characters Key: Follow the initial steps for setting up the Compose Key in Method 1 (navigating to System Settings >> Keyboard >> Shortcuts or System Settings >> Text Entry >> Keyboard Settings and then choosing Typing).

2. Instead of setting the Compose Key, find and click on the Alternative Characters Key option within the Typing settings. Choose a key from the pop-up list. The Menu key is a typical selection for the Alternative Characters Key. It’s important to choose a different key than the one you might have selected for the Compose Key to avoid conflicts.

3. Configure dconf-editor: Open dconf-editor either by searching for it in your applications menu or by running dconf-editor in the terminal.

4. Navigate through the dconf-editor interface to the following path: org > gnome > desktop > input-sources. You’ll see a tree-like structure; expand each level to reach input-sources.

5. Locate the setting named xkb-options. Double-click on it to edit its value.

6. In the “Custom value” field, you need to add a string that specifies which key combination will produce the euro symbol. Use one of the following options, enclosed in single quotes:

   • 'eurosign:e'
   • 'eurosign:2'
   • 'eurosign:4'
   • 'eurosign:5'

   These options associate the euro symbol with different number keys (2, 4, or 5) or the letter ‘e’ when used in combination with your Alternative Characters Key. Choose the one you find most convenient.

   Important: Single Quotes are Required. Make sure you include the single quotes as shown.

   If you already have other xkb-options configured, you need to add the eurosign option as a comma-separated string within the existing list. For example, if you have the Compose Key set to Right Alt and the Alternative Character Key set to Menu, and you choose to assign the euro symbol to the ‘4’ key with the Alternative Character Key, your xkb-options setting might look like this:

   ['eurosign:4','lv3:menu_switch','compose:ralt']

   The order of these strings doesn’t matter. 'lv3:menu_switch' typically corresponds to the Alternative Characters Key being set to the Menu key, and 'compose:ralt' indicates the Compose Key is set to Right Alt.

7. Click “Apply” or press Enter to save the changes in dconf-editor.

8. Close dconf-editor.

Now, to type the euro symbol (€), press and hold your chosen Alternative Characters Key (e.g., Menu key) and then press the number key or letter you configured for the euro symbol (e.g., ‘4’ if you used 'eurosign:4'). For instance, if you set the Alternative Character Key to Menu and used 'eurosign:4', you would press Menu + 4 to produce € .

Conclusion

Both the Compose Key and the Alternative Characters Key methods offer effective ways to type the euro symbol (€) on Ubuntu. The Compose Key is generally simpler to set up and provides a more versatile approach for typing various special characters. The Alternative Characters Key, while slightly more complex to configure, can offer a quicker two-key shortcut once set up, especially if you frequently need to type the euro symbol.

Choose the method that best suits your workflow and preferences. Experiment with both to see which one feels more natural and efficient for you. With either of these techniques, typing the euro symbol on your Ubuntu system will become a breeze.