Russian Cursive Ё ё (Yo): How to Write It
By Daily Cyrillic · Updated
Cursive ё is the е loop with two dots above it. The dots are added after the word is finished, and in everyday handwriting they are often left out. Sounds like "yo" in "yonder" and is always stressed.
Reading time: about 1 min.
- Sound
- /jo/, written yo
- Letter name
- ё
- Often confused with
- е, й
Turn this guide into words you can use
Build a free Russian set for this topic, with examples and ElevenLabs AI audio.
Sound
Sounds like "yo" in "yonder" and is always stressed.
How to write cursive ё, step by step
- Write a normal cursive е loop and connect it to the following letters.
- Finish the whole word first.
- Go back and place two small dots side by side above the loop.
The capital Ё
Capital Ё is the reversed-3 shape of capital Е with two dots above. It is rare, because few words begin with Ё.
How it connects to other letters
It joins exactly like е. The dots are the only pen lift, and they wait until the word is done.
Letters it is confused with
ё / е: Without its dots ё is indistinguishable from е. If a word makes no sense with е, try reading the letter as ё.
ё / й: й has a curved breve above it; ё has two separate dots. Do not let the dots merge into a curve.
Example words in cursive
Read the cursive word first, then check the print form and meaning.
| Cursive | Transliteration | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ёлка | ёлка | yólka | fir tree |
| мёд | мёд | myod | honey |
| лёд | лёд | lyod | ice |
| всё | всё | vsyo | everything |
Common mistakes
- Interrupting the word to add the dots mid-stroke, which breaks the connection.
- Assuming every е in handwriting is е: in words like мёд the dots may simply be missing.
Turn this guide into words you can use
Build a free Russian set for this topic, with examples and ElevenLabs AI audio.