U in Cursive: How to Write It
Lowercase u is i written twice, without a dot. Both valleys come back to the baseline. If the last stroke stays up in the air, you have started a v.
u
The letterforms on this page are rendered in Cedarville Cursive, an open-source font — school styles like Zaner-Bloser or D'Nealian differ in details. Treat the steps as the source of truth for stroke order; let the sample show you one possible shape.
Write it step by step
- 1Start the cursive u on the baseline, swing up to the midline, and retrace down, like an undotted i.
- 2Without lifting, swing up to the midline again and retrace down to the baseline a second time.
- 3Exit to the right along the baseline. Both bottoms should sit on the line.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Ending with an upstroke that never comes down. That finish belongs to v.
- Pointy bottoms. u is round at the baseline, like a smile, not a zigzag.
- A second valley much smaller than the first. Match the height: both peaks at the midline.
Practice words
you · up · funny · blue · jump
Turn this letter into a practice sheet
Opens a cursive tracing sheet with this lesson's words filled in. Download the PDF and print it.
See this letter on the alphabet chart and download the sheet →
Frequently asked questions
How do you tell cursive u from v?
Look at the ending. u comes back down to the baseline and exits. v swings up and stays up. The last stroke is the whole difference.
Does cursive u connect?
Yes, in and out on the baseline. It is one of the most connecting letters, which is why you and funny feel easy once the two valleys match.
Should u be dotted?
No. A dot makes the first valley look like i and the second like a mistake. Save dots for i and j.
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