Cursive Words

First in Cursive

How to write the word first in cursive — watch it drawn, trace every stroke, and take the free worksheet to paper.

There are 5 letters in first, but only 3 strokes: f-i-r-s-t in one continuous stroke; then go back to dot the i and cross the t. Play the animation to see how the letters flow together, then trace the whole word and download the printable practice sheet.

first written in cursive on handwriting guidelines, with a green starting dot and a red stop sign

How to write first in cursive

  1. 1Write f, i, r, s, t as one continuous stroke, joining each letter to the next without lifting the pencil.
  2. 2Go back and dot the i and cross the t.
Strokes: 3Pencil lifts: 2Letters: 5

Size is what makes first readable: tall f and t, midline-height i, r, and s, and below-the-line f. Uneven heights are the most common mistake, so check each letter against its lines.

How the letters in first connect

Follow the joins as you write first: f ends on an undercurve that carries into the undercurve opening of i; i ends on an undercurve that carries into the undercurve opening of r; r ends on an undercurve that carries into the undercurve opening of s; s ends on an undercurve that carries into the undercurve opening of t.

The letters in first

Every letter guide below teaches the letter the same way Scribble teaches it in the app — stroke order, joins, a letter check, and a printable worksheet.

Trace first in cursive

Trace it the way children do in the app: start on the green circle and pull it along every stroke without straying off the word.

Put your finger or mouse on the circle and pull it through the first stroke.

Free printable first cursive worksheet

Print the free first in cursive worksheet to move from the screen to paper: trace first along the dashed models, write it starting from each green dot, copy it beside the model, then fill the blank writing lines on your own.

Need a different word? Make a worksheet for any word — free, for any spelling.

Frequently asked questions

Watch it drawn first, then trace it: first is 3 strokes with 2 pencil lifts, so learn where each stroke begins before writing freely. The worksheet on this page follows that exact trace-copy-practice order.

The pencil lifts 2 times: to dot the i and to cross the t.

first uses 5 letters: f, i, r, s, and t. Size is what makes first readable: tall f and t, midline-height i, r, and s, and below-the-line f. Uneven heights are the most common mistake, so check each letter against its lines.

Follow the joins as you write first: f ends on an undercurve that carries into the undercurve opening of i; i ends on an undercurve that carries into the undercurve opening of r; r ends on an undercurve that carries into the undercurve opening of s; s ends on an undercurve that carries into the undercurve opening of t.

first starts with the letter f, which opens on an undercurve. Start there every time — the entry stroke is what the trace check on this page listens for first.

Practice writing first with real feedback

Scribble teaches cursive this same way on iPad — watch, trace, write, and get feedback on shape, size, spacing, and slant.

Try Scribble