Letter J: Sounds, Words and How to Write It
J is the tenth letter of the English alphabet. It comes after I and before K. J is a consonant. The capital (uppercase) letter is J and the small (lowercase) letter is j.
How to write it · Sounds · Words · Printable sheet · Quiz · FAQ
Last updated: October 2026
Letter J at a Glance
| Position | 10th of 26 letters |
|---|---|
| Type | Consonant |
| Uppercase and lowercase | J j |
| Comes between | I and K |
| Main sound | j |
| Strokes to write it | Capital J: 2 · small j: 2 |
How to Write Capital J and Small j
Follow the numbers: start each stroke at its numbered dot and move in the direction of the arrow. The blue top line, dashed middle line and red bottom line match the lines on handwriting paper.
Capital J (2 strokes)
- Many children start with a short line across the top.
- Draw a straight line down from the middle of the top line.
- Curve the bottom to the left to make a hook.
Small j (2 strokes)
- Start at the middle line. Draw a straight line down, going below the bottom line.
- Curve the end to the left to make a hook.
- Put a dot above it.
Small j has a tail: its body sits between the middle line and the bottom line, and its tail drops below the bottom line, like g, p and y.
Common mix-up: Lowercase j is sometimes written backwards, curving to the right. The hook of j always curves to the left.
Practice by tracing in the letter tracing game, then on paper with the Alphabet Tracing and Lowercase Letter Tracing worksheets.
Free Printable Letter J Tracing Sheet
Print this one-page sheet for practice at home or in class. Each row starts with a solid model letter, followed by dotted letters to trace, then empty lines to write J and j alone.
What Sound Does J Make?
- j: made by pushing your lips forward a little and buzzing, with your voice switched on. Examples: jam, jump, jelly, jet.
Practice the sound with pictures on J is for Jug, which shows how to make the sound with your mouth, or match sounds on the Letter Sounds worksheet.
Words That Start With J
J is for Jam! Here are more J words:
J also appears in the middle or at the end of words: pajamas, enjoy, banjo, object.
Interesting Facts About J
- J was the last letter to be added to our alphabet. It used to be a fancy way of writing I.
- English words almost never end in J. Words that end with a j sound use -ge or -dge instead, as in cage and bridge.
Quick Quiz: Letter J
Answer each question, then tap it to check.
Which letter comes right before J?
I.
Which way does the hook on j curve?
To the left.
How do we spell the j sound at the end of bridge?
With -dge.
Activities for Parents and Teachers
In the Classroom
Spread jam on crackers together while chanting "J is for jam!" Then line up toy jeeps or cars for a "J parade," calling out other J words the class can think of.
At Home
Make a simple jelly or jam sandwich together, talking about how "jelly" and "jam" both start with the J sound. Afterward, trace the letter J on paper, pointing out its curved hook shape.
Tips
Parents: If your child confuses lowercase j and i, point out that j has a curved tail that hooks below the line, while i is just a straight line with a dot.
Teachers: J is a great letter for a cooking or snack-time activity — jam, jelly, and juice are all easy, safe classroom foods to pair with the letter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What number letter is J in the alphabet?
J is the tenth letter of the 26-letter English alphabet. It comes after I and before K.
Is J a vowel or a consonant?
J is a consonant. All letters except the vowels A, E, I, O and U are consonants (Y can be both).
What sound does the letter J make?
J makes this sound: j as in jam.
How do you write a small j?
Start at the middle line. Draw a straight line down, going below the bottom line. Curve the end to the left to make a hook. Put a dot above it. Small j has a tail: its body sits between the middle line and the bottom line, and its tail drops below the bottom line, like g, p and y.
What are some words that start with J?
Words that start with J include jam, jelly, jet, juice, jacket, jungle.
Why don't English words end in J?
It is a spelling pattern of English. The j sound at the end of a word is written -ge (cage, huge) or -dge (badge, bridge).
Summary
J is the tenth letter of the alphabet and is a consonant. Its main sound is j. Capital J takes 2 strokes and small j takes 2. Next, learn the letter K.