Typing the per mille sign on your Linux machine seems like a chase for see-through swimming unicorns? Tired of copying the symbol from the web to paste? Find out here how to insert the per mille sign (‰) on Linux reliably using the “Compose” key ⤓.
First, Heavy Lifting
I remember soups when I picture a particular restaurant; I think of broths and bouillons; I have stock in mind of onion and beef; I recall consommés doubles, rich and delicious and intricately linked with one of my favorite places to eat.
I also remember the spoons: ornate, substantial and most of all heavy, much heavier than the ones found at home or at other establishments. This is no accident, of course, as the weight of many a thing has been associated with quality and value — including cutlery.
Whether a few ‰ of difference are enough to tip the scales, I cannot say; let us at least insert this spoon-shaped character, though, with all the gravitas it merits:
How to Insert the Per Mille Sign ( ‰ ) on Linux
Gnome Desktop and KDE Plasma
Time needed: 1 minute
To input a per mille symbol ( ‰ ) on Linux:
- Enable or set the Linux “Compose” key.
- Position the text cursor where you want to insert the per mille sign.
- Press the Compose key.
- Now type
%oimmediately after pressing Compose.
Per mille sign 1000‰ done?
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How to Insert the Per Mille Sign ( ‰ ) on Linux: FAQ
Can I also insert ‰ with a direct keyboard shortcut?
No.
The standard English-language keyboard layouts do not include key combination to insert the per mill sign.
On a Mac? How to Insert the Per Mille Symbol ‰ on a Mac
Using Windows? How to Make the Per Mille Symbol ‰ on Windows
How do I use the per mille sign in LaTeX?
In LaTeX, you can insert the ‰ (per mille) symbol using the following command from the textcomp package (which almost certainly is already installed):
\textperthousand
As an alternative, use \permil from the wasysym package. The two options differ slightly in their representation.
Example
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{textcomp}
% \usepackage{wasysym}
\begin{document}
By weight, they are some 4.5\textperthousand{} potassium.
% By weight, they are some 4.5\permil{} potassium.
\end{document}
(Tested with Gnome 46–49 and KDE Plasma 6; first published August 2024, last updated December 2025)