Letter Q: Sounds, Words and How to Write It
Q is the 17th letter of the English alphabet. It comes after P and before R. Q is a consonant. The capital (uppercase) letter is Q and the small (lowercase) letter is q.
How to write it · Sounds · Words · Printable sheet · Quiz · FAQ
Last updated: October 2026
Letter Q at a Glance
| Position | 17th of 26 letters |
|---|---|
| Type | Consonant |
| Uppercase and lowercase | Q q |
| Comes between | P and R |
| Main sounds | qu, k |
| Strokes to write it | Capital Q: 2 · small q: 1 |
How to Write Capital Q and Small q
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 Q (2 strokes)
- Draw a big circle, starting at the top and going to the left, like O.
- Draw a short slanted tail crossing the bottom right of the circle.
Small q (1 stroke)
- Start just below the middle line. Make a small c-shaped circle and close it.
- Draw a straight line down on the right, going below the bottom line.
- Some styles add a little flick to the right at the end.
Small q 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 q is easily mixed up with p (its mirror image) and with g. The tail of q is straight, or flicks right; the tail of g curves left.
Practice by tracing in the letter tracing game, then on paper with the Alphabet Tracing and Lowercase Letter Tracing worksheets.
Free Printable Letter Q 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 Q and q alone.
What Sound Does Q Make?
- qu: in English words, Q is almost always followed by U, and together they say kw. Examples: queen, quack, quick, quilt.
- k: in a few words, qu says just k. Examples: antique, unique.
Practice the sound with pictures on Q is for Queen, which shows how to make the sound with your mouth, or match sounds on the Letter Sounds worksheet.
Words That Start With Q
Q is for Queen! Here are more Q words:
Q also appears in the middle or at the end of words: square, equal, liquid, aquarium.
Interesting Facts About Q
- Q is one of the least common letters in English.
- In English, Q is nearly always followed by U. A few words borrowed from other languages break the rule, such as Qatar and qi.
Quick Quiz: Letter Q
Answer each question, then tap it to check.
Which letter comes right after Q?
R.
Which letter almost always comes after Q?
U.
What sound do q and u make together in queen?
kw.
Activities for Parents and Teachers
In the Classroom
Make paper crowns and let each child be "queen or king for a minute" while the class chants "Q is for queen!" Then whisper other Q words quietly, since "quiet" starts with Q too.
At Home
Snuggle under a quilt or blanket together while saying "Q is for quilt." Afterward, trace the letter Q on paper, pointing out how it looks like an O with a little tail.
Tips
Parents: Since real Q words are rarer than other letters, don't worry if your child needs more repetition and pictures to remember them compared to letters like B or C.
Teachers: Always teach "qu" together as a pair rather than isolating Q — it reflects how the letter actually works in real words.
Frequently Asked Questions
What number letter is Q in the alphabet?
Q is the 17th letter of the 26-letter English alphabet. It comes after P and before R.
Is Q a vowel or a consonant?
Q 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 Q make?
Q makes these sounds: qu as in queen; k as in antique.
How do you write a small q?
Start just below the middle line. Make a small c-shaped circle and close it. Draw a straight line down on the right, going below the bottom line. Some styles add a little flick to the right at the end. Small q 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 Q?
Words that start with Q include queen, quilt, question, quail, quack, quiet.
Why does Q almost always come with U?
English took this spelling from Latin and French, where q was used with u for the kw sound. That is why we teach qu together.
Summary
Q is the 17th letter of the alphabet and is a consonant. Its main sounds are qu, k. Capital Q takes 2 strokes and small q takes 1. Next, learn the letter R.