Letter U: Sounds, Words and How to Write It
U is the 21st letter of the English alphabet. It comes after T and before V. U is a vowel. The capital (uppercase) letter is U and the small (lowercase) letter is u.
How to write it · Sounds · Words · Printable sheet · Quiz · FAQ
Last updated: October 2026
Letter U at a Glance
| Position | 21st of 26 letters |
|---|---|
| Type | Vowel |
| Uppercase and lowercase | U u |
| Comes between | T and V |
| Main sounds | short u, long u, oo |
| Strokes to write it | Capital U: 1 · small u: 1 |
How to Write Capital U and Small u
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 U (1 stroke)
- Start at the top on the left. Draw a line down.
- Curve around at the bottom.
- Go back up to the top on the right.
Small u (1 stroke)
- Start at the middle line. Draw a line down, curve around at the bottom and go back up to the middle line.
- Draw a short straight line down on the right.
Small u is a short letter: it sits between the dashed middle line and the bottom line, like a, c and o.
Common mix-up: Lowercase u can look like an upside-down n, and like v. U has a round bottom, and lowercase u has a small line on the right.
Practice by tracing in the letter tracing game, then on paper with the Alphabet Tracing and Lowercase Letter Tracing worksheets.
Free Printable Letter U 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 U and u alone.
What Sound Does U Make?
- short u: the sound at the start of umbrella and in the middle of cup. Examples: umbrella, up, cup, sun.
- long u: U saying its own name, you. Examples: unicorn, use, music, cute.
- oo: in some words. Examples: flute, ruler, blue.
Practice the sound with pictures on U is for Umbrella, which shows how to make the sound with your mouth, or match sounds on the Letter Sounds worksheet.
Words That Start With U
U is for Umbrella! Here are more U words:
U also appears in the middle or at the end of words: cup, bus, duck, drum, sun.
Interesting Facts About U
- U almost always follows Q in English words, as in queen and quick.
- The letters U and V used to be written as the same letter. They became separate letters only a few hundred years ago.
Quick Quiz: Letter U
Answer each question, then tap it to check.
Which letter comes right after U?
V.
Does the u in unicorn make a short or long sound?
A long sound. It says its name, you.
Which letter almost always comes before U in words like queen?
Q.
Activities for Parents and Teachers
In the Classroom
Open umbrellas indoors (or use pictures) while chanting "U is for umbrella!" Then draw pretend unicorns together as a class, naming other U words along the way.
At Home
Since fewer words start with U, get creative — put on a play uniform or costume together while saying "U is for uniform." Afterward, trace the letter U on paper, pointing out its rounded bottom.
Tips
Parents: Letter U has fewer everyday example words than most letters, so lean on pictures and props (like an umbrella) rather than just word lists.
Teachers: Point out that U shows up inside lots of familiar words too, like "sun" and "bus" — not just at the start.
Frequently Asked Questions
What number letter is U in the alphabet?
U is the 21st letter of the 26-letter English alphabet. It comes after T and before V.
Is U a vowel or a consonant?
U is a vowel. The five vowels are A, E, I, O and U. Every English word has at least one vowel sound, and vowels can make short and long sounds.
What sound does the letter U make?
U makes these sounds: short u as in umbrella; long u as in unicorn; oo as in flute.
How do you write a small u?
Start at the middle line. Draw a line down, curve around at the bottom and go back up to the middle line. Draw a short straight line down on the right. Small u is a short letter: it sits between the dashed middle line and the bottom line, like a, c and o.
What are some words that start with U?
Words that start with U include umbrella, unicorn, up, under, uniform, uncle.
Why do we say "a unicorn" but "an umbrella"?
We use "an" before a vowel sound. Unicorn starts with a y sound (you), so we say "a unicorn", while umbrella starts with the vowel sound uh.
Summary
U is the 21st letter of the alphabet and is a vowel. Its main sounds are short u, long u, oo. Capital U takes 1 stroke and small u takes 1. Next, learn the letter V.