---
title: "Russian Cursive Ф ф (Ef): How to Write It"
description: "How to write Ф ф (Ef) in Russian cursive: stroke order, how it joins, how to tell it from р, and 4 example words with audio."
canonical: "https://dailycyrillic.com/learn/russian-cursive/ef"
lang: "en"
published: "2026-10-25T11:07:25.000Z"
modified: "2026-10-31T11:50:40.000Z"
author: "Daily Cyrillic"
---

# Russian Cursive Ф ф (Ef): How to Write It

By [Daily Cyrillic](/about) · Updated 31 Oct 2026

Cursive ф is the tallest lowercase letter: a stem that rises above the midline and drops below the baseline, with a round bowl on each side. It is one of the few cursive letters that looks close to its print form. The same f as in "fun", made with the upper teeth on the lower lip.

Reading time: about 2 min.

Sound

/f/, written f

Letter name

эф

Often confused with

р

## Turn this guide into words you can use

Build a free Russian set for this topic, with examples and ElevenLabs AI audio.

Фф

Ф ф · эф · /f/

## Sound

The same f as in "fun", made with the upper teeth on the lower lip.

## How to write cursive ф, step by step

1.  Draw the left bowl first: a small oval between the baseline and midline, open on the right.
2.  From the bowl, go up and draw a long stem from above the midline to well below the baseline.
3.  Come back up the stem to the midline.
4.  Draw the right bowl, a mirror of the left one, and exit at the baseline.

## The capital Ф

Capital Ф has a tall stem and two larger bowls; the bowls stay above the baseline and the stem barely descends.

## How it connects to other letters

ф usually needs a pen lift before or after the stem; many writers draw it in two parts and then continue the word.

## Letters it is confused with

-   ф / р: Both have descenders, but р has a single bowl on the right and stops at the midline; ф has two bowls and a stem that rises higher.
    

## Example words in cursive

Read the cursive word first, then check the print form and meaning.

Example words in cursive
| Cursive | Print | Transliteration | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| фото | фото | fóto | photo |
| кофе | кофе | kófe | coffee |
| шарф | шарф | sharf | scarf |
| фрукты | фрукты | frúkty | fruit |

## Common mistakes

-   Making the stem too short, so ф shrinks to an о with a line through it.
-   Drawing only one bowl, which makes it read as р or б.

## Turn this guide into words you can use

Build a free Russian set for this topic, with examples and ElevenLabs AI audio.

[Full Russian cursive chart](/learn/russian-cursive)

## Keep practising

-   [
    
    Full Russian cursive chart
    
    All 33 letters in print and cursive, how to read handwriting, and a printable worksheet.
    
    ](/learn/russian-cursive)
-   [
    
    The Russian Alphabet
    
    Every printed letter with its name, sound and audio.
    
    ](/learn/russian-alphabet)
-   [
    
    Russian Alphabet Trainer
    
    Quiz yourself on letters and sounds, free and without sign-up.
    
    ](/tools/russian-alphabet-trainer)

Source: https://dailycyrillic.com/learn/russian-cursive/ef