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

# Russian Cursive Р р (Er): How to Write It

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

Cursive р is a long downstroke that dips below the line, with a small rounded bowl joined at the top right. It looks almost exactly like a handwritten Latin p. A rolled or tapped r made with the tip of the tongue, as in Spanish or Italian.

Reading time: about 2 min.

Sound

/r/, written r

Letter name

эр

Often confused with

Latin p, ф

## Turn this guide into words you can use

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

Рр

Р р · эр · /r/

## Sound

A rolled or tapped r made with the tip of the tongue, as in Spanish or Italian.

## How to write cursive р, step by step

1.  Start with a short upward lead-in stroke from the baseline to the midline.
2.  Draw a straight, slightly slanted stroke down well below the baseline.
3.  Go back up the same stroke to the midline without lifting the pen.
4.  Curve a small oval bowl to the right and close it near the baseline, ready to join the next letter.

## The capital Р

Capital Р is a tall slanted stem with a large bowl at the top, like a script P. Many writers start it with a small hook at the top of the stem.

## How it connects to other letters

The bowl closes on the right and flows straight into the next letter, so р connects on both sides without a pen lift.

## Letters it is confused with

-   р / Latin p: The shape is the same as English p, but the sound is r. Read рот as "rot", not "pot".
    
-   р / ф: ф also has a descender, but it carries a bowl on both sides of the stem and rises above the midline; р has one bowl on the right only.
    

## Example words in cursive

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

Example words in cursive
| Cursive | Print | Transliteration | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| рыба | рыба | rýba | fish |
| рот | рот | rot | mouth |
| река | река | reká | river |
| утро | утро | útro | morning |

## Common mistakes

-   Reading it as an English p sound out of habit.
-   Stopping the stem at the baseline, which makes it look like a cursive о or а.

## 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/er