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

# Russian Cursive Ц ц (Tse): How to Write It

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

Cursive ц looks like a cursive и (a handwritten u) with a small tail hooking down below the baseline at the bottom right. That short descender is the only difference. ts as in "cats", always hard.

Reading time: about 1 min.

Sound

/t͡s/, written ts

Letter name

цэ

Often confused with

и, щ

## Turn this guide into words you can use

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

Цц

Ц ц · цэ · /t͡s/

## Sound

ts as in "cats", always hard.

## How to write cursive ц, step by step

1.  Draw a downstroke from the midline that curves right at the baseline.
2.  Go up to the midline and make a second straight downstroke to the baseline.
3.  Continue below the baseline into a short tail.
4.  Hook the tail slightly left or loop it, then exit to the next letter.

## The capital Ц

Capital Ц is a large cursive И shape, usually begun with a curl at the top left, plus the same small tail at the bottom right.

## How it connects to other letters

The tail is short, so ц can loop back up from it and join the next letter without a lift.

## Letters it is confused with

-   ц / и: Without the tail, ц is just и. Look below the baseline: a little hook means ц.
    
-   ц / щ: щ has the same tail but three downstrokes instead of two.
    

## Example words in cursive

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

Example words in cursive
| Cursive | Print | Transliteration | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| цвет | цвет | tsvet | colour |
| цирк | цирк | tsirk | circus |
| птица | птица | ptítsa | bird |
| отец | отец | otéts | father |

## Common mistakes

-   Making the tail so small it disappears, so the word reads with и.
-   Writing a long loop like у instead of a short hook.

## 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/tse