Māori macrons
How to choose a compatible Google Font
Ever faced the issue of choosing a font, only to realise it’s not going to work with the Māori text in your design because it doesn’t support macrons?
I’ve included some of my ‘go to’ Google Fonts I use for print projects that are compatible with te reo Māori so you don’t have this issue!
I’ve also included a handy link for you to check out other Google Fonts that support macrons.
Choosing a typeface that is fit for purpose
As a designer working with clients in Aotearoa New Zealand, most of my projects include copy in te reo Māori. A challenge I’ve encountered when choosing fonts for Māori content is selecting a font that has the compatible macrons.
What is a macron?
In te reo Māori a macron is the horizontal line above any of the five vowels, a e i o u or A E I O U. A macron indicates a long vowel sound. This influences how a word is pronounced and its meaning. In other words, macrons matter! It’s essential you choose a compatible font.
How do I know which Google Fonts have macrons?
Use this link to check Google Fonts that have macrons. You’ll also be able to check under Glyphs, Language support.
Below are examples of sans serif fonts from Google Fonts that are Māori language compatible and print-friendly.
Open Sans is a clean typeface with excellent legibility.
Roboto is a modern, crisp typeface that is great for body copy in long reports.
Quicksand is a rounded display typeface that is suitable for headings.
Conclusion
I hope you’ve found this blog helpful in finding a Google Font compatible with Māori Macrons to implement into your next project.
Reach out if you have any questions zoe@onformat.co.nz
🙂
