Cursive F: how to write the letter F in cursive
The lowercase cursive f is the only lowercase letter that uses the full range, with a loop above the midline and a loop below the baseline: in Zaner-Bloser terms, undercurve, loop, slant, loop, undercurve. It belongs to the undercurve letters (start with a swing up from the baseline) and is one of the harder letters to learn. Below you will find the capital and lowercase F on three-line guides, stroke-by-stroke instructions, practice words, and a free printable worksheet in the same school cursive style.
Lowercase f at a glance
- Strokes
- 1 (undercurve, loop, slant, loop, undercurve)
- Starts
- at the baseline
- Ends
- with an undercurve up to the midline
- Family
- undercurve letters
Capital F at a glance
- Strokes
- 3 (curve right; double curve, curve up, slide right; cross)
- Starts
- at the topline
- Next letter
- stands alone: lift the pencil first
Capital cursive F
Lowercase cursive f
Free cursive F worksheet
Cursive F practice worksheet
1 page · US Letter, prints on A4 · free
Capital F and lowercase f to trace, copy and write on your own, plus four practice words (fish, fun, fox, farm). Three-line guides, standard school cursive.
How to write a lowercase f in cursive
- Start at the baseline. Make an undercurve up to the topline.
- Make a loop back to the left and slant down through the baseline into the descender space.
- Make a loop back up to the right, closing it on the baseline.
- Make an undercurve up to the midline to join the next letter.
Tip: Practice f right after l and g: the top half is an l, the bottom half is a mirrored g loop.
How to write a capital F in cursive
- Stroke 1: start at the topline and curve right to make the wavy top bar.
- Stroke 2: start below the top bar, make a double curve down the stem, curve up at the baseline and slide right.
- Stroke 3: cross the stem at the midline with a short bar. The capital F stands alone: lift the pencil before the next letter.
The capital F does not join the next letter. Lift the pencil after the F and start the next letter on the baseline.
Cursive words with the letter f
Practice the f 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 F
- Placing the lower loop on the wrong side so it looks like a g attached to an l.
- Making the upper and lower loops different widths.
- Not closing the lower loop on the baseline, which leaves the f floating.
Letters that use the same motion
The f is easier to master alongside letters that start the same way. Practice these together:
Cursive F questions
Does the capital F connect to the next letter in cursive?
No. The capital F is one of the few capitals that stands alone. Finish the F, lift the pencil, and start the next letter fresh on the baseline.
Where does the lowercase f end?
The lowercase f 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 F hard to learn?
The f is one of the harder letters of the cursive alphabet. Practice f right after l and g: the top half is an l, the bottom half is a mirrored g loop.
Which cursive style is the F 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.