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

# Russian Cursive К к (Ka): How to Write It

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

Cursive к is a short x-height stem with a small loop and a leg on the right, like a Latin k shrunk to lowercase height. Unlike Latin k, it has no tall ascender. A "k" as in "kite", but without the puff of air of English k.

Reading time: about 2 min.

Sound

/k/, written k

Letter name

ка

Often confused with

Latin k, ж

## Turn this guide into words you can use

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

Кк

К к · ка · /k/

## Sound

A "k" as in "kite", but without the puff of air of English k.

## How to write cursive к, step by step

1.  Draw a slanted stem from the x-height down to the baseline.
2.  Lift the pen, or retrace, and start the arm at the top right of the stem area.
3.  Curve the arm in to touch the stem at mid-height with a tiny loop.
4.  Kick the leg out diagonally to the baseline and exit to the right.

## The capital К

Capital К looks like a handwritten Latin K: a tall stem, often starting with a small hook, and a curled arm and leg meeting it in a loop.

## How it connects to other letters

к usually needs a pen lift between the stem and the arm. The leg ends on the baseline and connects forward.

## Letters it is confused with

-   к / Latin k: Writing к with a tall ascender like an English k is a common foreign accent in handwriting; Russian к stays at x-height.
    
-   к / ж: ж has arcs on both sides of the stem; к has an arm and leg only on the right.
    

## Example words in cursive

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

Example words in cursive
| Cursive | Print | Transliteration | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| кот | кот | kot | tomcat |
| рука | рука | ruká | hand, arm |
| кошка | кошка | kóshka | cat |
| окно | окно | oknó | window |

## Common mistakes

-   Giving the lowercase a tall ascender, which makes it compete with б and в.
-   Leaving out the small loop so arm and leg look like a separate <.

## 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/ka