Cursive Words

Happy Birthday in Cursive

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

happy birthday takes 4 strokes to write in cursive — h-a-p-p-y in one continuous stroke, then b-i-r-t-h-d-a-y in one continuous stroke; then go back to dot the i and cross the t. The animation below draws it on the writing lines exactly the way children practice it in Scribble; trace it after, then take the worksheet to paper.

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

How to write happy birthday in cursive

  1. 1Write h, a, p, p, y as one continuous stroke, joining each letter to the next without lifting the pencil.
  2. 2Write b, i, r, t, h, d, a, y as one continuous stroke, joining each letter to the next without lifting the pencil.
  3. 3Go back and dot the i and cross the t.
Strokes: 4Pencil lifts: 3Letters: 13

h, b, t, and d are tall letters that reach toward the topline. p and y drop below the baseline. a, i, and r stay between the baseline and the midline.

How the letters in happy birthday connect

Follow the joins as you write happy birthday: h ends on an undercurve that carries into the downcurve opening of a; a ends on an undercurve that carries into the undercurve opening of p; p ends on an undercurve that carries into the undercurve opening of p; p ends on an undercurve that carries into the overcurve opening of y; b ends on a checkstroke that carries into the undercurve opening of i; the remaining 6 joins follow the same rhythm to the end of the word. Remember: lift between words and leave a finger space.

The letters in happy birthday

happy birthday is only as good as its letters. Each card links to the full guide — animation, joins, quiz, and worksheet — for that letter.

Trace happy birthday 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 happy birthday cursive worksheet

The free printable happy birthday worksheet follows the same order as this page: a trace row with dashed models, a green-dot row to start each attempt, a copy row beside a solid model, and blank lines to fill on your own.

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

Frequently asked questions

Write h-a-p-p-y in one continuous stroke, then b-i-r-t-h-d-a-y in one continuous stroke. Finish by going back to dot the i and cross the t. Keep every letter slanting the same direction and resting on the baseline.

happy birthday takes 4 strokes: h-a-p-p-y in one continuous stroke, then b-i-r-t-h-d-a-y in one continuous stroke; then go back to dot the i and cross the t.

The pencil lifts 3 times: between words, to dot the i, and to cross the t.

h, b, t, and d are tall letters that reach toward the topline. p and y drop below the baseline. a, i, and r stay between the baseline and the midline.

Follow the joins as you write happy birthday: h ends on an undercurve that carries into the downcurve opening of a; a ends on an undercurve that carries into the undercurve opening of p; p ends on an undercurve that carries into the undercurve opening of p; p ends on an undercurve that carries into the overcurve opening of y; b ends on a checkstroke that carries into the undercurve opening of i; the remaining 6 joins follow the same rhythm to the end of the word. Remember: lift between words and leave a finger space.

Practice writing happy birthday 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