Russian Cursive М м (Em): How to Write It
By Daily Cyrillic · Updated
Cursive м is л with one more stroke: a hook on the baseline, then two pointed peaks. It never looks like the English cursive m, which in Russian handwriting is т. An "m" as in "mother".
Reading time: about 2 min.
- Sound
- /m/, written m
- Letter name
- эм
- Often confused with
- т, л
Turn this guide into words you can use
Build a free Russian set for this topic, with examples and ElevenLabs AI audio.
Sound
An "m" as in "mother".
How to write cursive м, step by step
- Start on the baseline with the small left hook, as for л.
- Rise to the x-height and come down to the baseline in a straight stroke.
- Go back up to the x-height, making a second sharp peak.
- Come down a third time and exit with a hook to the right.
The capital М
Capital М looks like a handwritten Latin M that starts with a hook at the baseline: two tall pointed peaks with a dip in the middle.
How it connects to other letters
Like л, м takes its connection through the entry hook, so the previous letter runs straight into it. The final stroke joins forward at the baseline.
Letters it is confused with
м / т: Lowercase т is written like an English m with rounded tops. м has pointed tops and the baseline hook. Rounded means т, pointed means м.
м / л: Same entry, one peak fewer. If you see only one point after the hook, it is л.
Example words in cursive
Read the cursive word first, then check the print form and meaning.
| Cursive | Transliteration | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| мост | мост | most | bridge |
| сумка | сумка | súmka | bag |
| музыка | музыка | múzyka | music |
| семья | семья | sem'yá | family |
Common mistakes
- Writing an English cursive m for м, which Russians read as т.
- Leaving out the hook so м merges into neighbouring и or ш strokes.
Turn this guide into words you can use
Build a free Russian set for this topic, with examples and ElevenLabs AI audio.