Watch & Learn
See exactly how cursive z is formed, stroke by stroke.
How to write the lowercase letter "z" in cursive
How to Write Cursive z
Stroke Instructions
Start at the baseline with an upward stroke to the midline. Make a small loop or curve at the midline, then angle down to the baseline. Continue past the baseline into a descender loop that curves to the left and back up, crossing through at the baseline. Finish with an exit stroke to the right.
Tips for Success
- Cursive 'z' looks quite different from print 'z'
- The top has a small loop, not the horizontal strokes of print 'z'
- The descender is similar to other descender letters
- Practice this one extra since it looks so different from print
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Trying to make it look like a print 'z'
- The loop at the top being too large
- Inconsistent descender compared to other descender letters
Practice Worksheets
Download and print this free worksheet to practice writing cursive z.

Lowercase z Worksheet
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