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Z in Old English Letters

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

Capital Z
Lowercase z

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

Z is the last letter of the alphabet and one of the most ornamental in blackletter. The capital has a wavy top, a heavy diagonal and a looping foot, which can resemble a numeral 3 or a tilted S, while the lowercase z is a compact zigzag. In Fraktur, the lowercase form often has a small tail that drops below the line.

Outline version to colour or trace

Open in the Old English text generator →

How to draw a Old English capital Z

  1. 1Draw the top bar as a thin curve at about 45 degrees, from left to right, ending in a small flourish.
  2. 2Pull a heavy diagonal from the right end of the bar to the lower left with the full width of the nib.
  3. 3Draw the bottom bar as a curved stroke that moves to the right and ends in a diamond.
  4. 4Add a small loop or hook at the left, making sure the diagonal is clearly heavier than the bars.

Tip: Let the diagonal dominate. If the bars are as heavy as the diagonal, the Z becomes a stack of three lines with no clear structure.

How to draw a Old English lowercase z

  1. 1Draw a short top bar with a thin start, using the corner of the nib.
  2. 2Pull the diagonal from the right end of the bar to the lower left.
  3. 3Draw the lower bar, and in Fraktur let the tail curve down below the line.
  4. 4Check that the letter sits in the x-height and is not wider than an o.

Tip: Write z next to s and 3 in the same style. The z should be distinctly angular, and a rounder form means your strokes are too soft.

What makes Z awkward or easy

The Z is awkward because it is rarely written, so few people have the habit of its stroke order. The capital also resembles other letters, such as 3 or S, if the curves are too round.

Variations

Fraktur lowercase z often has a tail, which makes it look like a 3 with a flat top, while Textura z is a plain zigzag. Fraktur capital Z is in the Letterlike Symbols block as ℨ. Beyond that, forms vary, so use a specimen for exact shapes.

Common mistakes with Old English Z

  • The capital Z looks like a number 3.

    Make the diagonal straight and end the top bar with a clear point, not a curve.

  • The lowercase z is wider than the neighbouring letters.

    Narrow the bars and keep the height at the x-height.

  • All three strokes are the same weight.

    Pull the diagonal with the full nib and the bars with the corner.

Ideas for Old English Z

Z is a good initial for names like Zoe, Zacharias or Zelda, and for brand names with an edgy feel. A gothic Z works well on a patch or a poster, and a Z ending a word in a tattoo gives it a decisive close.

Printable Old English Z sheet

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

Old English letter Z z Name: ____________________ · coolletteringgenerator.com

Old English Z you can copy and paste

This letter is an exception: the capital Fraktur Z is held in the Letterlike Symbols block, while lowercase z is in the normal run. Fraktur: ℨ (U+2128) and 𝔷 (U+1D537). Bold Fraktur: 𝖅 (U+1D585) and 𝖟 (U+1D59F).

Old English Z: questions

Why is the Fraktur capital Z outside the main Fraktur block?
It was already encoded in the Letterlike Symbols block, so the mathematical alphabet reuses it, leaving a gap in the main range. The lowercase z is in the regular block. Both paste as normal text. A converter can only substitute the character, so double-check that your platform shows ℨ instead of an empty box.
Does the lowercase Fraktur z look like a 3?
It can, since many Fraktur forms have a curved tail that resembles a 3. A clear flat top and a visible diagonal help to keep it as a z. Draw the top of the z flat and the diagonal straight, and the numeral resemblance fades.
Is Z hard to draw?
The strokes are simple, but the proportions are tricky since the letter is rarely practised. Draw it as three strokes in order and compare with S and 3 for clarity. Slow, deliberate practice of the three strokes in sequence fixes most proportion problems.

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