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

# Russian Cursive У у (U): How to Write It

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

Cursive у looks like a handwritten Latin y: a small arch on the left and a long descender on the right that loops back up. It is a vowel, not a consonant. A rounded oo as in "moon", but shorter and with lips pushed forward.

Reading time: about 1 min.

Sound

/u/, written u

Letter name

у

Often confused with

Latin y, д

## Turn this guide into words you can use

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

Уу

У у · у · /u/

## Sound

A rounded oo as in "moon", but shorter and with lips pushed forward.

## How to write cursive у, step by step

1.  Start at the midline with a short downstroke that curves right at the baseline.
2.  Go up to the midline again on the right.
3.  Pull a long straight stroke down below the baseline.
4.  Loop to the left at the bottom and swing back up to cross the stem at the baseline.

## The capital У

Capital У is the same form enlarged, usually started with a small curl at the top left of the first stroke.

## How it connects to other letters

The descender loop ends at the baseline and leads straight into the next letter, so у never needs a pen lift.

## Letters it is confused with

-   у / Latin y: Same shape as y, but it is the vowel u: утка is "utka".
    
-   у / д: Cursive д also has a looped descender, but it starts with a closed round bowl like a; у starts with an open arch.
    

## Example words in cursive

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

Example words in cursive
| Cursive | Print | Transliteration | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| утка | утка | útka | duck |
| утюг | утюг | utyúg | iron (for clothes) |
| улица | улица | úlitsa | street |
| ухо | ухо | úkho | ear |

## Common mistakes

-   Reading it as y or as an English "you" sound.
-   Closing the left arch, which turns у into a cursive д.

## 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/u