Cursive Z
How to write uppercase Z and lowercase z in cursive, one stroke at a time.
Cursive z is the letter that surprises people most: an overcurve like the start of n, a small hitch at the baseline, and a loop below the line. Nothing about it resembles the printed zigzag. The capital Z, by contrast, keeps the zigzag, with a curl at the top-left and a tail at the end. Both forms connect to the next letter.
- Stroke family
- Overcurve letters
- Height
- z is a descender letter — part of it drops below the baseline. z and the other descender letters
- Joins the next letter
- Lowercase: yes, from the baseline. Capital: yes. The baseline join z uses
How to write a lowercase z in cursive
Start at the baseline; finish at the baseline, with an exit tail. One continuous stroke.
- Start on the baseline with an overcurve that arches up and over to the midline.
- Slant down toward the baseline and, just above it, make a tiny hitch — a small curve to the right that points down.
- Continue down into the descender space and loop to the left.
- Come back up, crossing the stem at the baseline, and finish with an undercurve to the midline.
Lowercase cursive z — numbers mark where each part of the stroke begins
Capital cursive Z — numbers mark where each part of the stroke begins
How to write a capital Z in cursive
Start at the top line, on the left; finish at the baseline, with a short tail. Capital Z ends with an exit stroke, so it joins the lowercase letter that follows without lifting the pen. Z beside the other capitals that join
- Start at the top line on the left with a small curl, then draw a level stroke across the top to the right.
- Slant down to the bottom-left corner on the baseline.
- Draw a level stroke along the baseline to the right and finish with a small upward tail.
Common mistakes with cursive Z
- Writing a printed zigzag with joins, which does not connect cleanly at either end.
- Skipping the small hitch, which leaves a plain loop that reads as a y without its bowl.
- Making the hitch too large — it is a small bump, not a second hump.
Tips that help
- Say "over, hitch, loop" for the three parts.
- z is rare, so practise it inside real words: "zoo", "lazy", "puzzle".
Practice words with z
Once the letter is comfortable on its own, write it inside words — that is where the joins happen. Watch how the exit tail of z rises to meet the next letter.
zip
zoo
zebra
zero
zigzag
Want different words? Type a spelling list into the generator and print your own z sheet (letters A–Z and numbers, up to 24 lines of any length, US Letter or A4), or copy more words that use z from the word lists.
z is among the least common letters in English, so it rarely comes up by chance. A pangram puts z into every line you write, which is the quickest way to keep it in practice.
Free cursive Z worksheet
Capital Z and lowercase z: a model to copy, grey letters to write over, dotted letters to trace, two practice words, and blank rows to finish on your own. Prints on one US Letter page.
Cursive Z practice sheet
Uppercase Z · lowercase z · zip · zoo
Name ______________________ Date __________
Capital Z
Lowercase z
Together
Words
On your own
cursivealphabet.pro — free cursive practice sheets
z and its stroke family
Overcurve letters begin with an arch that comes over the top from the left: m, n, v, x, y and z. The hump is the whole skill — keep it round, not pointed.
Families are also the order to learn in, rather than A to Z: the beginner’s guide covers when z is usually taught and the four strokes every letter is built from.
Cursive Z questions
How do you write a lowercase z in cursive?
Overcurve up to the midline, slant down and make a small hitch just above the baseline, drop into a loop below the line that swings left, come back up through the baseline and exit with a tail. It does not look like a printed z.
How do you write a capital Z in cursive?
Start at the top-left with a small curl, draw a level stroke across the top, slant down to the bottom-left, and draw a level stroke along the baseline that ends in a short tail. It keeps the printed zigzag, and the tail lets it connect to the next letter.
Why does cursive z have a loop under the line?
Because the printed zigzag cannot be joined without lifting the pen. The loop replaces the bottom stroke of the printed letter and gives the pen a path back up to the next letter.
What are some good words to practise cursive z with?
Good practice words for cursive z are zip, zoo, zebra, zero and zigzag. Keep the arch of z rounded as the word speeds up; the top of an overcurve is the first thing to turn into a point. Watch the tail too: z should drop a full space below the baseline and come back up without cutting into the next letter. The practice sheet on this page rules the first two, zip and zoo; the worksheet generator will rule the rest.
Cursive Alphabet — cursive Z