How to write a cursive Y

The capital and lowercase cursive Y in traditional US cursive, the joined handwriting taught in many American schools. Follow the steps, trace the letter on the worksheet, then practice the joins and words.

Lowercase cursive y

1Start at the middle line.
2Slant down to the baseline and curve up to the middle line.
3Slant down below the baseline, loop to the left and come back up.
4Cross at the baseline and swing up to the right.

Cursive capital Y

1Start just under the top line with a small hook.
2Slant down and curve up to the top line on the right.
3Slant down below the baseline, loop to the left and come back up.
4Cross at the baseline and swing up to the right.

The capital Y joins the next letter, so the word carries on without lifting the pencil.

Cursive y joins and words

Cursive joins with y (ya, yo, ay, oy, ly) and words to practice: yarn, yellow, yo-yo

Joins to practice: ya, yo, ay, oy, ly

Words: yarn, yellow, yo-yo, yogurt, yak, yard

Tip: The y starts like a u and finishes like a j.

Letter group: Letters that start at the middle line and go straight down: i, j, t, u, w, y.

Cursive Y worksheet

Trace the capital and lowercase y, the joined yyy, and a word, on handwriting lines with starting marks. Print it at 100% on US Letter paper.

Download the cursive Y worksheet (PDF)Make your own

Free, no account. "Make your own" opens the worksheet generator with Y selected, for A4, other sizes or dashed letters.

Add a picture to color

Make a coloring page to go with the worksheet, such as a ball of yarn. Your first page is free, with no sign-up.

Cursive Y questions

Does the capital cursive Y join the next letter?▾

Yes. The capital Y ends with a stroke that leads straight into the next letter, so the whole word is written without lifting the pencil.

What letters is the cursive y like?▾

The top half is a u and the bottom half is the loop of a j. If those two are easy, the y is too.

Which letters are like the cursive y?▾

The y belongs to the letters that start at the middle line and go straight down: i, j, t, u, w, y. Letters in the same group start the same way, so many teachers practice them together.

The cursive alphabet, letter by letter

Cursive alphabet chart|Cursive capital letters|Cursive worksheet generator

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