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

# Russian Cursive Щ щ (Shcha): How to Write It

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

Cursive щ is cursive ш (three downstrokes joined at the bottom) with a small tail hooking below the baseline at the bottom right. Spot the tail and you have щ. A long, soft sh, like "sh" in "fresh sheets" held a little longer.

Reading time: about 1 min.

Sound

/ɕː/, written shch

Letter name

ща

Often confused with

ш, ц

## Turn this guide into words you can use

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

Щщ

Щ щ · ща · /ɕː/

## Sound

A long, soft sh, like "sh" in "fresh sheets" held a little longer.

## How to write cursive щ, step by step

1.  Write the first two downstrokes exactly as in ш.
2.  Make the third downstroke and carry it below the baseline.
3.  Turn the end into a short hook or small loop.
4.  Come back up to the baseline and join the next letter.

## The capital Щ

Capital Щ is a capital Ш with the same short descender added at the bottom right.

## How it connects to other letters

Like ц, the tail is short enough to loop back up, so щ connects forward without lifting the pen.

## Letters it is confused with

-   щ / ш: The only difference is the tail. Compare the endings of плащ (raincoat, with tail) and малыш (toddler, without).
    
-   щ / ц: Both have the tail, but ц has two downstrokes and щ has three.
    

## Example words in cursive

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

Example words in cursive
| Cursive | Print | Transliteration | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| щи | щи | shchi | cabbage soup |
| щётка | щётка | shchyótka | brush |
| борщ | борщ | borshch | borscht |
| плащ | плащ | plashch | raincoat |

## Common mistakes

-   Forgetting the tail, which silently changes the word.
-   Pronouncing it as a hard "sh-ch" cluster instead of one long soft sound.

## 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/shcha