Cursive D: how to write the letter D in cursive
The lowercase cursive d is the same oval as a, then an undercurve up to the topline and a slant back down: in Zaner-Bloser terms, downcurve, undercurve, slant, undercurve. It belongs to the downcurve letters (start by curving around, like a and o) and is one of the easier letters to learn. Below you will find the capital and lowercase D on three-line guides, stroke-by-stroke instructions, practice words, and a free printable worksheet in the same school cursive style.
Lowercase d at a glance
- Strokes
- 1 (downcurve, undercurve, slant, undercurve)
- Starts
- at the below the midline
- Ends
- with an undercurve up to the midline
- Family
- downcurve letters
Capital D at a glance
- Strokes
- 1 (downcurve, loop, curve down, curve up, curve right)
- Starts
- at the below the topline
- Next letter
- stands alone: lift the pencil first
Capital cursive D
Lowercase cursive d
Free cursive D worksheet
Cursive D practice worksheet
1 page · US Letter, prints on A4 · free
Capital D and lowercase d to trace, copy and write on your own, plus four practice words (dog, day, dad, door). Three-line guides, standard school cursive.
How to write a lowercase d in cursive
- Start just below the midline. Curve down and around to the left to make the oval, exactly as for the lowercase a.
- Make an undercurve all the way up to the topline.
- Slant down to the baseline, retracing the stem.
- Make an undercurve up to the midline to join the next letter.
Tip: Think of the d as an a wearing a tall hat: oval first, then the stem.
How to write a capital D in cursive
- Start just below the topline. Curve down and around to the baseline and make a small loop at the bottom left.
- Curve down and around to the right to make the big bowl, then curve up to the topline.
- Curve right to finish. The capital D stands alone: lift the pencil before the next letter.
The capital D does not join the next letter. Lift the pencil after the D and start the next letter on the baseline.
Cursive words with the letter d
Practice the d inside real words so the joins become automatic. All of these appear on the worksheet.
Each of these words has its own page with the joins explained: see cursive words.
Common mistakes with the cursive D
- Making the tall stroke a loop like an l. In school cursive the d has a plain retraced stem.
- Stopping the stem at the midline, which turns the d into an a.
Letters that use the same motion
The d is easier to master alongside letters that start the same way. Practice these together:
Cursive D questions
Does the capital D connect to the next letter in cursive?
No. The capital D is one of the few capitals that stands alone. Finish the D, lift the pencil, and start the next letter fresh on the baseline.
Where does the lowercase d end?
The lowercase d ends on the baseline with an upward exit stroke. The next letter starts from that stroke, which keeps the whole word connected.
Is the cursive D hard to learn?
The d is one of the easier letters of the cursive alphabet. Think of the d as an a wearing a tall hat: oval first, then the stem.
Which cursive style is the D shown in?
The letters on this page and in the worksheet use the standard school cursive taught in most US classrooms (the Zaner-Bloser style). D'Nealian cursive differs slightly in slant and in a few capitals, but the strokes described here apply to both.