K in Cursive: How to Write It
Lowercase k starts like h and then refuses the open arch. A small in-and-out kick touches the stem around the midline. Miss the touch and k falls apart into h.
k
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 k on the baseline, rise to the headline, loop left, and come straight down to the baseline.
- 2Swing a short stroke back up along the stem to about the midline, so the pen is touching the downstroke.
- 3Kick out to the right and slightly down, ending on the baseline with a small exit. The kick is one curve, not a second letter.
Common mistakes to avoid
- An open arch that never touches the stem. That is h. The kick has to meet the stem before it leaves.
- A kick that starts at the headline. It belongs near the midline, not up in the loop.
- Two separate sticks with a gap. k is one continuous idea: loop, touch, kick.
Practice words
like · make · kitten · book · sky
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
Why is cursive k harder than h?
h is one familiar arch. k asks you to come back to the stem and leave again on a smaller curve. The extra touch is the whole letter, and it disappears when you rush.
Does cursive k connect?
Yes, from the end of the kick along the baseline. The tall loop does not connect upward. Practice kite slowly until the kick lands before you speed up.
Should the kick of k be closed like a loop?
In the style this site teaches, it is a small curve that touches and leaves, not a closed oval. A fully closed kick starts to look like a cursive b glued to an l.
Voice to Handwriting · voicetohandwriting.online