Cursive L: how to write the letter L in cursive
The lowercase cursive l is one tall loop, the simplest tall letter: in Zaner-Bloser terms, undercurve, loop, slant, undercurve. It belongs to the undercurve letters (start with a swing up from the baseline) and is one of the easier letters to learn. Below you will find the capital and lowercase L on three-line guides, stroke-by-stroke instructions, practice words, and a free printable worksheet in the same school cursive style.
Lowercase l at a glance
- Strokes
- 1 (undercurve, loop, slant, undercurve)
- Starts
- at the baseline
- Ends
- with an undercurve up to the midline
- Family
- undercurve letters
Capital L at a glance
- Strokes
- 1 (undercurve, loop, double curve, loop, curve under)
- Starts
- at the baseline
- Next letter
- stands alone: lift the pencil first
Capital cursive L
Lowercase cursive l
Free cursive L worksheet
Cursive L practice worksheet
1 page · US Letter, prints on A4 · free
Capital L and lowercase l to trace, copy and write on your own, plus four practice words (leg, lip, log, lamp). Three-line guides, standard school cursive.
How to write a lowercase l in cursive
- Start at the baseline. Make an undercurve up to the topline.
- Make a loop back to the left and slant down to the baseline.
- Make an undercurve up to the midline to join the next letter.
Tip: l is the parent of b, h, k and f. When your l is consistent, those four letters get much easier.
How to write a capital L in cursive
- Start at the baseline. Make an undercurve up to the topline and a loop back to the left.
- Make a double curve down to the baseline.
- Make a small loop on the baseline and curve under to the right. The capital L stands alone: lift the pencil before the next letter.
The capital L does not join the next letter. Lift the pencil after the L and start the next letter on the baseline.
Cursive words with the letter l
Practice the l 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 L
- Making the loop too narrow so it fills in.
- Stopping short of the topline, which makes the l look like a tall e.
Letters that use the same motion
The l is easier to master alongside letters that start the same way. Practice these together:
Cursive L questions
Does the capital L connect to the next letter in cursive?
No. The capital L is one of the few capitals that stands alone. Finish the L, lift the pencil, and start the next letter fresh on the baseline.
Where does the lowercase l end?
The lowercase l 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 L hard to learn?
The l is one of the easier letters of the cursive alphabet. l is the parent of b, h, k and f. When your l is consistent, those four letters get much easier.
Which cursive style is the L 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.