Cursive K
ModerateLoop lettersA lowercase cursive k is a tall loop to the headline, then a small loop pressed against the stem at the midline, and a short leg kicking out to the baseline.
Lowercase and capital K in cursive
- Headline
- The top line. Tall letters β b, d, f, h, k, l β reach it; t stops just short.
- Midline
- The x-height line. Short letters such as a, c, e, n and o stop here.
- Baseline
- The writing line. Every letter sits on it.
- Descender
- Below the writing line, for f, g, j, p, q, y and z.
Copy cursive K symbols
Four Unicode script forms of the letter, ready to paste. Tap any card to copy the single character.
Lowercase cursive k
π
The standard script form of a lowercase k. The most widely supported of the four β it renders on effectively every current device.
Capital cursive K
π¦
The script capital K, used to start a styled name. Well supported, though a few of the capitals come from a different Unicode block.
Bold lowercase k
π΄
A heavier weight of the same letterform. Slightly less widely supported β older Android builds may show an empty box.
Bold capital K
π
The bold script capital K. The most decorative of the four and the most likely to be missing a glyph on older devices.
| Style | Character | Unicode name |
|---|---|---|
| Lowercase cursive k | π | Mathematical Script Small K |
| Capital cursive K | π¦ | Mathematical Script Capital K |
| Bold lowercase k | π΄ | Mathematical Bold Script Small K |
| Bold capital K | π | Mathematical Bold Script Capital K |
These are Unicode characters, not a font, and not a picture of handwriting β the stroke-order guidance above is the handwritten form. They paste into most bios and display names, but usernames on Instagram, X, TikTok, Discord and Roblox reject them, and screen readers announce them character by character.
How to write a lowercase k in cursive
- 1
From the baseline, stroke up to the headline.
Pen finishes at the headline
- 2
Loop left at the top and retrace down to the baseline.
Pen finishes at the baseline
- 3
Curve up to the midline and make a small loop that touches the stem.
Pen finishes at the midline
- 4
Kick the leg out to the right and down to the baseline, then exit.
Pen finishes at the baseline
How to write a capital K in cursive
- 1
Draw a tall looped stem from the baseline to the headline and back down.
Pen finishes at the baseline
- 2
Lift, then start at the headline to the right of the stem.
Pen finishes at the headline
- 3
Bring a diagonal down and left into a small loop against the stem at the midline.
Pen finishes at the midline
- 4
Kick a second diagonal out to the right down to the baseline.
Pen finishes at the baseline
Joining k to other letters
Coming in
Low upstroke running the full height to the headline.
Going out
Low baseline exit from the foot of the leg.
- πβ―
ke
The low exit rises into the e loop β "key", "keep", "make".
- ππ
kn
Both joins are low, so the connection is a simple diagonal.
- πΈπ
ck
The c exit climbs the full height into the k loop. Very common ending.
Common mistakes with cursive k
Drawing two straight diagonals like a printed k, with no loop.
Fix: The small loop at the midline is what makes it cursive k rather than print k.
Letting the small loop float away from the stem.
Fix: The loop must touch the stem. A detached loop reads as lr or lv.
Making the leg too long, so it crosses into the next letter.
Fix: The leg reaches the baseline and stops, roughly as wide as the small loop.
Letters cursive k is mistaken for
| Confused with | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|
| h | h has a plain arch; k has a loop plus a separate kick-out leg. |
| b | b closes a full bowl; k only touches the stem with a small loop. |
| R | Cursive lowercase k and cursive capital R share the loop-plus-leg motion and are often confused at speed. |
Practice words and names with k
Each of these puts k next to a different kind of join, so working through the list covers more than repeating the letter alone.
Words
- πβ―β―π keep
- ππβ΄πknow
- ππΆπβ―make
- ππ½πΆππthank
- ππΎππΈπ½β―πkitchen
Names
- π¦πΆπβ―Kate
- π¦β―ππΎπKevin
- π¦πΆπππΆKayla
- π¦πΎβ―ππΆπKieran
Printable k practice sheet
Tracing rows on four-line guides for both cases, plus the words above. Prints on one page.
Copy and paste cursive K
The handwriting guidance above is about forming the letter with a pen. If what you actually want is script-style text to paste into a bio or a username, use this instead.
Script characters
π¦πΆπβ―
These are Unicode mathematical script characters, not a font. They paste into most social bios and usernames, but screen readers announce them character by character and some sites strip them β so avoid them in anything that needs to stay accessible or searchable.
About the letter k
Cursive k carries more search demand than any other letter in this cluster, and the reason is visible in the shape: it is the lowercase letter that looks least like its printed form. Someone who encounters a handwritten k without having learned cursive genuinely cannot decode it, which is why "cursive k" and "k in cursive" are searched tens of thousands of times a month.
The small midline loop is the entire letter. Drop it and you have printed k with a cursive entry stroke; let it drift off the stem and you have two separate letters. It should be small β about a third of the x-height β and it should visibly touch the stem.
The leg is drawn as a kick, not a straight line: out, down, and a slight flick at the baseline. Writers who draw it as a rigid diagonal end up with a letter that looks mechanical next to the rounded h and b beside it.
Learn these together: loop letters
These letters share the same base motion as k, so practising them as a group is faster than taking them alphabetically.
Frequently asked questions
What does a cursive k look like?
A lowercase cursive k is a tall loop to the headline, then a small loop pressed against the stem at the midline, and a short leg kicking out to the baseline.
How do you write a capital K in cursive?
1. Draw a tall looped stem from the baseline to the headline and back down. 2. Lift, then start at the headline to the right of the stem. 3. Bring a diagonal down and left into a small loop against the stem at the midline. 4. Kick a second diagonal out to the right down to the baseline.
Is cursive k hard to write?
It is rated moderate. Cursive k carries more search demand than any other letter in this cluster, and the reason is visible in the shape: it is the lowercase letter that looks least like its printed form. Someone who encounters a handwritten k without having learned cursive genuinely cannot decode it, which is why "cursive k" and "k in cursive" are searched tens of thousands of times a month.
Which letters does cursive k connect to?
Low baseline exit from the foot of the leg. "ke" β The low exit rises into the e loop β "key", "keep", "make". "kn" β Both joins are low, so the connection is a simple diagonal. "ck" β The c exit climbs the full height into the k loop. Very common ending.
Why does my cursive k look wrong?
Drawing two straight diagonals like a printed k, with no loop. The small loop at the midline is what makes it cursive k rather than print k. Letting the small loop float away from the stem. The loop must touch the stem. A detached loop reads as lr or lv. Making the leg too long, so it crosses into the next letter. The leg reaches the baseline and stops, roughly as wide as the small loop.