Cursive N: how to write the letter N in cursive
The lowercase cursive n is two rounded humps made with overcurves: in Zaner-Bloser terms, overcurve, slant, overcurve, slant, undercurve. It belongs to the overcurve letters (start by going over the top, like n and m) and is one of the easier letters to learn. Below you will find the capital and lowercase N on three-line guides, stroke-by-stroke instructions, practice words, and a free printable worksheet in the same school cursive style.
Lowercase n at a glance
- Strokes
- 1 (overcurve, slant, overcurve, slant, undercurve)
- Starts
- at the baseline
- Ends
- with an undercurve up to the midline
- Family
- overcurve letters
Capital N at a glance
- Strokes
- 1 (curve forward, slant, overcurve, slant, undercurve)
- Starts
- at the baseline
- Next letter
- joins without lifting the pencil
Capital cursive N
Lowercase cursive n
Free cursive N worksheet
Cursive N practice worksheet
1 page · US Letter, prints on A4 · free
Capital N and lowercase n to trace, copy and write on your own, plus four practice words (net, nap, nut, nest). Three-line guides, standard school cursive.
How to write a lowercase n in cursive
- Start at the baseline. Curve over to the midline and slant down to the baseline.
- Curve over again and slant down for the second hump.
- Make an undercurve up to the midline to join the next letter.
Tip: Practice "nu nu nu": the n goes over and the u goes under, so the pair trains both motions.
How to write a capital N in cursive
- Start at the baseline. Curve forward to the topline and slant down to the baseline.
- Curve over and slant down for the second hump.
- Make an undercurve up to the midline. The capital N joins the next letter.
The capital N joins the next letter, so names and sentence openers are written in one motion.
Cursive words with the letter n
Practice the n 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 N
- Confusing n with u: n starts with an overcurve (over the top), u with an undercurve (from underneath).
- Adding a third hump by accident, which makes an m.
Letters that use the same motion
The n is easier to master alongside letters that start the same way. Practice these together:
Cursive N questions
Does the capital N connect to the next letter in cursive?
Yes. In standard school cursive the capital N ends with an exit stroke that joins the next letter, so a word like "Net" is written without lifting the pencil.
Where does the lowercase n end?
The lowercase n 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 N hard to learn?
The n is one of the easier letters of the cursive alphabet. Practice "nu nu nu": the n goes over and the u goes under, so the pair trains both motions.
Which cursive style is the N 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.