Upside-Down Exclamation Mark (¡)

Which Languages Use the Upside-Down Exclamation Mark?

The upside-down exclamation mark (¡) is most commonly used in Spanish, but historically, other languages have used it too.

In Galician and Catalan, the ¡ was once used but is no longer required in modern writing.

Why Does Spanish Use the Upside-Down Exclamation Mark?

In Spanish, word order doesn’t always change to indicate an exclamation, so the upside-down exclamation mark signals emotion right away.

Compare These Sentences in English and Spanish:

In English, an exclamation is clear from tone and context, but in Spanish, it may not be obvious without the ¡ mark.

Where to Place the Upside-Down Exclamation Mark (¡)?

1. At the Beginning of an Exclamation

✅ Example:

• ¡Feliz cumpleaños! (Happy birthday!)

• ¡Cuidado! (Watch out!)

2. When Mixed with a Question

If a sentence contains both an exclamation and a question, you can combine marks:

✅ Example:

• ¡Cómo te extraño! (How much I miss you!)

• ¡Qué sorpresa encontrarte aquí! (What a surprise to find you here!)

3. In Quotes or Dialogue

Place the ¡ inside quotation marks when quoting an exclamation.

✅ Example:

• Carmen said, «¡No lo puedo creer!» (Carmen said, “I can't believe it!”)

How to Type the Upside-Down Exclamation Mark (¡) on Different Devices

There are multiple ways to type ¡, depending on your computer or mobile device.

📱 On Smartphones (iPhone & Android)

✅ iPhone:

1. Press "123" on the keyboard.

2. Tap "#+=" for more symbols.

3. Press and hold the **exclamation mark (!) ** and slide to select ¡.

✅ Android:

1. Press and hold the **exclamation mark (!) ** key.

2. Slide to select ¡ when it appears.

💻 On Computers (Mac & Windows)

🌐 Copy & Paste Method

If shortcuts don’t work, just copy and paste this: ¡

FAQs: Upside-Down Exclamation Mark (¡)

Does Spanish use any other upside-down punctuation?

Yes! Spanish also uses the upside-down question mark (¿) to indicate questions.

✅ Example:

• ¡Hola! ¿Cómo estás? (Hello! How are you?)

Why doesn’t English use the upside-down exclamation mark?

English doesn’t need it because word order and tone make exclamations clear.

✅ Example:

• What a great day! (It’s obviously an exclamation.)

Can I type an upside-down exclamation mark on a Chromebook?

Yes! Try this shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + U, then type 00A1 and press Enter.

Is the upside-down exclamation mark optional in Spanish?

No, it’s required in formal Spanish writing.

How do I add a Spanish keyboard to my computer?

• Windows: Go to Settings > Time & Language > Language & Region > Add a Keyboard.

• Mac: Go to System Preferences > Keyboard > Input Sources > Add Spanish.