Cursive Alphabet A to Z
Tap any letter to copy it. Capitals come first, then small letters. Need a worksheet? Hit print for a clean practice sheet.
The cursive alphabet has 26 letters, each with a capital and a small form, for 52 shapes in total. Cursive letters are joined with connecting strokes so the pen rarely lifts. The easiest group to learn first is a, c, d, g, o and q, because they all start with the same “c” curve.
Cursive Letter Groups (Learn in This Order)
Teachers don’t teach cursive A to Z. They teach it by stroke, because letters that start the same way are easier to learn together. This is the learning order that works best for kids and adults.
| Group | Letters | Starting stroke |
|---|---|---|
| 1. C-curve | a, c, d, g, o, q | Small backward curve like a “c” |
| 2. Undercurve | i, t, u, w, r, s, j, p | Swing up from the baseline |
| 3. Loop | b, e, f, h, k, l | Tall thin loop above the line |
| 4. Hump (overcurve) | m, n, v, x, y, z | Bridge over the top |
How to Write Cursive Letters by Hand
Start with the easy group: a, c, d, g, o, q. Once that curve feels smooth, the rest of the group comes fast. Next, try the loop letters: b, e, f, h, k, l. Keep the loop thin, like a skinny balloon. Then move on to humps and capitals.
Tricky letters people ask about
Cursive a looks like a small “c” with a tail. Capital cursive J starts high, drops below the line and loops back up. The cursive Q looks a lot like a “2”, which confuses many people. The cursive Z often has a loop under the line. W in cursive ends with a small bridge that joins the next letter. Cursive r has a little shoulder at the top, and cursive s closes at the bottom with a tiny point. Capital cursive G looks like a tall loop with a hook, and capital F and T share the same wavy top.
Common words in cursive
Practice short words first: “the”, “and”, “you”, “of”, “to”, “for”, “from”, “dear”. Writing the in cursive or and in cursive ten times a day builds speed faster than copying the whole alphabet. Then try your name with our cursive name generator.
Tip: Slant your paper a little. Right-handed writers tilt the top to the left. Left-handed writers tilt it to the right.
Copy and Paste Cursive Letters
The letters at the top are Unicode bold script characters, so they paste into Instagram, TikTok and WhatsApp. To turn a whole sentence into cursive at once, use the cursive font generator.
Free Cursive Alphabet Worksheet for Practice
Most people searching for the cursive alphabet want something they can print and trace. Hit the Print alphabet button above and you get a clean A to Z chart with every capital and small letter, sized for an A4 or Letter page. The worksheet uses a real handwriting font (Dancing Script) with grey letters to trace and a writing line for each pair.
How to practise with the chart
Put a sheet of thin paper over the chart and trace each letter three times. Then try it on its own, without looking. Ten minutes a day is plenty. Most beginners can write all 26 small letters from memory in about two weeks.
Which letters to learn first
Start with the “c” family: a, c, d, g, o and q. They all begin with the same curve, so one movement unlocks six letters. Next do the tall loops (b, h, k, l), then the tricky ones that change shape in cursive, like f, r, s and z.
Is this good for kids?
Yes. The letters on our chart follow the simple joined style most schools teach, so it works for children aged 7 and up. For younger kids, print the chart a little larger and let them trace with a crayon first.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many letters are in the cursive alphabet?
26, the same as print. Each letter has a capital and a small form, so there are 52 shapes to learn.
What is the hardest cursive letter to write?
Most learners find capital Q, capital G and small z hardest. Cursive Q looks like a 2, and z often drops a loop below the line.
Is there a printable cursive alphabet?
Yes. Press the Print button on this page to get a clean sheet of all 52 letters with practice lines, or use Ctrl+P / Cmd+P.
Which cursive letters should I learn first?
Start with the c-group: a, c, d, g, o and q. They all begin with the same curve, so you learn six letters with one movement.
Sources and further reading
Written and reviewed by the CursiveFonts Editorial Team. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026. Found an error? Tell us and we will correct it.