Cursive V: how to write the letter V in cursive
The lowercase cursive v is an overcurve down to the baseline and back up, ending with a checkstroke at the midline: in Zaner-Bloser terms, overcurve, slant, undercurve, checkstroke. It belongs to the overcurve letters (start by going over the top, like n and m) and is a medium-difficulty letters to learn. Below you will find the capital and lowercase V on three-line guides, stroke-by-stroke instructions, practice words, and a free printable worksheet in the same school cursive style.
Lowercase v at a glance
- Strokes
- 1 (overcurve, slant, undercurve, checkstroke)
- Starts
- at the baseline
- Ends
- with a checkstroke at the midline
- Family
- overcurve letters
Capital V at a glance
- Strokes
- 1 (curve forward, slant, undercurve, overcurve)
- Starts
- at the baseline
- Next letter
- stands alone: lift the pencil first
Capital cursive V
Lowercase cursive v
Free cursive V worksheet
Cursive V practice worksheet
1 page · US Letter, prints on A4 · free
Capital V and lowercase v to trace, copy and write on your own, plus four practice words (van, vet, vine, vase). Three-line guides, standard school cursive.
How to write a lowercase v in cursive
- Start at the baseline. Curve over to the midline and slant down to the baseline.
- Make an undercurve up to the midline.
- Finish with a checkstroke: a short flat stroke at the midline, which is where the next letter starts.
Tip: v is a checkstroke letter, like b, o and w. The next letter starts from the midline, so "ve" and "vi" feel different from "ne" and "ni".
How to write a capital V in cursive
- Start at the baseline. Curve forward to the topline and slant down to the baseline.
- Make an undercurve up to the topline and curve over to finish. The capital V stands alone: lift the pencil before the next letter.
The capital V does not join the next letter. Lift the pencil after the V and start the next letter on the baseline.
Cursive words with the letter v
Practice the v 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 V
- Ending on the baseline, which makes "ve" look like "ue".
- Making the point too sharp; cursive v has a rounded bottom.
Letters that use the same motion
The v is easier to master alongside letters that start the same way. Practice these together:
Cursive V questions
Does the capital V connect to the next letter in cursive?
No. The capital V is one of the few capitals that stands alone. Finish the V, lift the pencil, and start the next letter fresh on the baseline.
Where does the lowercase v end?
The lowercase v is a bridge letter: it ends at the midline with a short flat stroke, so the next letter starts from the top rather than from the baseline. That is why "van" looks different from words that follow a baseline letter.
Is the cursive V hard to learn?
The v is a medium-difficulty letters of the cursive alphabet. v is a checkstroke letter, like b, o and w. The next letter starts from the midline, so "ve" and "vi" feel different from "ne" and "ni".
Which cursive style is the V 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.