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F in Old English Letters

By Maya Chen, lettering designer and type educator · Checked by Jordan Hale · · How we review content

Capital F
Lowercase f

Rendered in the UnifrakturMaguntia typeface, an open-source font. It is a reference shape, not a hand-drawn letter.

The blackletter F is built around a strong stem that carries an arm at the top and a crossbar in the middle. The capital is among the more decorative letters, with a swelling arm and a diamond head, and the lowercase f is a tall stem with a curved hook and a short bar. Its upright, narrow shape makes it handy for practising the vertical rhythm of a line.

Outline version to colour or trace

Open in the Old English text generator →

How to draw a Old English capital F

  1. 1Draw the thick stem as a vertical downstroke at about 45 degrees, giving it a diamond head and a flat diamond foot.
  2. 2Add the upper arm as a thin curve that leaves the top of the stem to the right, ending in a small pointed terminal.
  3. 3Pull a firm crossbar across the stem at about the middle, extending slightly more to the right than to the left.
  4. 4Add a short hairline at the top left of the stem, and a small diamond at the end of the lower arm if your style uses one.

Tip: Extend the crossbar to the right of the stem by roughly the stem's own width and a half. A bar centred on the stem makes the F look like a cross.

How to draw a Old English lowercase f

  1. 1Draw the tall stem as a single downstroke, starting with a small hook at the top that turns to the right.
  2. 2Pull the stem straight to the baseline, finishing with a diamond foot in line with the other letters.
  3. 3Cross the stem at the x-height with a short, flat bar that extends on both sides.
  4. 4Check the hook at the top. It should arch softly over the stem without curling down as far as the bar.

Tip: Cross all your f's and t's in a single pass after writing the word. The bars will line up at the same height, which makes the line look much more disciplined.

What makes F awkward or easy

The F is awkward because it has no bowl to give it weight, so its balance depends entirely on the lengths and positions of the arms. Lowercase f also extends above the x-height, which affects line spacing, and its hook can collide with the next letter.

Variations

Textura f often stops at the baseline and has a short, straight crossbar, while Fraktur f also has a form with a bar that extends only to the left of the stem in some typefaces. Treat the differences as general rather than fixed, and check a specimen if you need an accurate historical form.

Common mistakes with Old English F

  • The crossbar is centred on the stem and looks like a cross.

    Extend it further on the right and keep it short on the left, so the letter keeps its character.

  • The hook at the top is too long and touches the next letter.

    Shorten the hook and add a small extra space after the letter to keep the shapes apart.

  • The stem is thin and the F appears weak next to neighbouring letters.

    Use the full width of the pen for the stem and reserve the corner for hairlines.

Ideas for Old English F

F is a great initial for names like Felix, Fiona or Frederick, and for a brand like a craft brewery, such as Foundry. A heavy F also works as a drop cap for a certificate, and F in a shield makes a punchy monogram for a team or club.

Printable Old English F sheet

Trace the outlines, then fill the empty rows with your own letters.

Old English letter F f Name: ____________________ · coolletteringgenerator.com

Old English F you can copy and paste

Both the capital F and the lowercase f have normal mathematical Fraktur forms. Fraktur: 𝔉 (U+1D509) and 𝔣 (U+1D523). Bold Fraktur: 𝕱 (U+1D571) and 𝖋 (U+1D58B).

Old English F: questions

How long should the crossbar of a blackletter f be?
Keep the bar short and flat, extending to both sides of the stem but a little further to the right. In running text, line up the bars of f and t at the same height. A bar that is too long collides with the neighbouring letters.
Why does my Old English F look weak?
Check that the stem is drawn with the full width of the pen and that the arm has a clear contrast to it. If the stem is as thin as the arm, the F loses its anchor. Add a stronger diamond head to emphasise the stem. A small overlap between the f hook and a following t or i is the exception, but keep each stem upright.
Can I join the lowercase f to the next letter?
In traditional blackletter, letters are usually separate, with tight spacing instead of linking strokes. A little overlap of the hook and the next letter is possible, but avoid cursive joins, which belong to a different style. Tight spacing, not linking strokes, is what holds a blackletter line together.

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