cursive
/kyʁ.siv/
The French word for 'cursive' is cursive.
cursive is a noun used to describe joined-up handwriting.
Meaning: joined-up handwriting (noun)
Which one should you use?
While you can use cursive as a noun, it is very common to use the full phrase écriture cursive when referring to this style of handwriting.
How do you pronounce it?
/kyʁ.siv/
Did you know?
- The word cursive shares a root with the French word courir, meaning 'to run', evoking the idea of the pen running across the page without lifting.
- While the word cursive exists, many French speakers colloquially refer to joined-up writing simply as attaché, which literally translates to 'attached'.
- In France, the debate over whether écriture cursive should remain compulsory in primary schools is a recurring and passionate national topic in education.
Examples in context
- J'étais stupéfait d'apprendre que de moins en moins de jeunes gens peuvent écrire en écriture cursive.I was amazed to learn that fewer and fewer young people can write in cursive.This sentence shows how to use cursive when discussing the ability of young people to write in this style.Tatoeba #801514 by sacredceltic, translation #719926 by darinmex
- L'écriture arabe est exclusivement cursive.Arabic writing is exclusively cursive.This sentence uses cursive to describe the nature of Arabic writing.Tatoeba #13743246 by Adelpa, translation #13743275 by rul
- Pourriez-vous m'expliquer la différence entre l'écriture cursive et l'écriture scripte ?Could you explain to me the difference between cursive writing and script writing?
- J'adore écrire en attaché, et toi ?I love writing in cursive, how about you?
- J'ai remarqué que les Québécois utilisent souvent le terme "écriture en cursif" pour parler de l'écriture cursive.I noticed that Quebecers often use the term "écriture en cursif" to refer to cursive writing.
Example conversation
Léa and Nathan are looking at an old letter.
- LéaEst-ce que tu peux lire ce texte ?Can you read this text?
- NathanNon, c'est écrit en cursive et c'est difficile.No, it's written in cursive and it's difficult.
- LéaC'est vrai que la cursive est complexe.It's true that cursive is complex.
- NathanOn devrait demander à mon grand-père.We should ask my grandfather.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry cursive, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
