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

# Russian Cursive Ж ж (Zhe): How to Write It

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

Cursive ж is built from three parts: a mirrored c, a straight vertical stroke and a normal c, so it looks like )|( pressed together. It stays within the x-height. A voiced "zh" like the "s" in "pleasure"; at the end of a word it sounds like "sh".

Reading time: about 2 min.

Sound

/ʐ/, written zh

Letter name

жэ

Often confused with

х, к

## Turn this guide into words you can use

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

Жж

Ж ж · жэ · /ʐ/

## Sound

A voiced "zh" like the "s" in "pleasure"; at the end of a word it sounds like "sh".

## How to write cursive ж, step by step

1.  Draw a small arc open to the left, like a backward c.
2.  Lift or loop back to the top center and pull a straight slanted stroke down to the baseline.
3.  From the middle of that stroke, draw an arc open to the right, like a normal c.
4.  Finish the right arc with a small upward hook toward the next letter.

## The capital Ж

Capital Ж is the same three-part figure at full height, usually with small loops where the arcs touch the central stem.

## How it connects to other letters

ж usually needs one pen lift inside the letter, after the left arc. The right arc then connects forward without a break.

## Letters it is confused with

-   ж / х: х is two crossing arcs with no central stem. If you see a vertical line between the arcs, it is ж.
    
-   ж / к: к has a stem with arms only on the right; ж is symmetrical with arcs on both sides.
    

## Example words in cursive

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

Example words in cursive
| Cursive | Print | Transliteration | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| жена | жена | zhená | wife |
| нож | нож | nozh | knife |
| лыжи | лыжи | lýzhi | skis |
| журнал | журнал | zhurnál | magazine |

## Common mistakes

-   Drawing ж as an asterisk of straight lines, as in print, which does not join to neighbours.
-   Making the two arcs different sizes, so the letter looks like к or х.

## 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/zhe