Y in Cursive: How to Write It
Lowercase y starts like u and then falls. The second valley does not stop on the baseline; it keeps going, loops under, and climbs back so the next letter can join.
y
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 y on the baseline and write one valley, up to the midline and back down, like the first half of u.
- 2Swing up to the midline again, then pull down past the baseline into the descender space.
- 3Loop left and under, come back up to the baseline, and exit right. The loop should close.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Stopping on the baseline. That is u. The second stroke has to descend.
- An open tail that never returns to the line, so the next letter cannot join.
- A descender so deep it collides with the headline of the row below.
Practice words
you · yellow · my · funny · play
Turn this letter into a practice sheet
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Frequently asked questions
How is cursive y different from g?
g begins with a closed oval, like a. y begins with a valley, like u. Both loop under the line, but the top half is a different family.
Does cursive y connect?
Yes, after the under-loop climbs back to the baseline. If your y ends in a dangling tail, the join is missing and the next letter starts too far right.
Should the loop of y close?
Yes, in this style. An open tail is a legal variant in some books, but it is slower to join. Close the loop until the exit is automatic, then decide if you want the open form.
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