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U in Old English Letters

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

Capital U
Lowercase u

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

U is closely related to V, and blackletter makes the pair harder, since the capital U often looks like an N turned upside down or a pair of stems with a bowl. The lowercase u is two stems joined at the bottom by a curve, with the second stem having a small foot. Both are quick to write once you understand the shape.

Outline version to colour or trace

Open in the Old English text generator →

How to draw a Old English capital U

  1. 1Draw the left stem as a thick downstroke at about 45 degrees, with a diamond head and a short curved end.
  2. 2Add the right stem as a parallel stroke of the same weight, separated by the width of two stems.
  3. 3Join the stems at the bottom with a curved stroke, making a rounded or faceted base.
  4. 4Add a thin hairline at the top of the right stem and check that the two arms are the same height.

Tip: Leave the gap between stems at about two stem widths. A narrower gap closes the letter, and the capital U then looks like a small, dark V.

How to draw a Old English lowercase u

  1. 1Draw the first stem as a short downstroke from the x-height, finishing with a short curve to the right.
  2. 2Draw the second stem parallel to the first, starting with a thin hairline and moving straight down to the baseline.
  3. 3Add a small foot to the right of the second stem, forming a diamond.
  4. 4Check that the join at the bottom is rounded and the counter is clean.

Tip: Write u and n side by side. The u is an n turned upside down, so the stems and gaps should match.

What makes U awkward or easy

The U is awkward because the capital has no unique features, and it can be mistaken for V or N. The lowercase u looks very similar to n if the foot is missing, so the foot is the main clue.

Variations

Historically U and V were the same letter, which is why some blackletter alphabets show a single shape for both. Textura capitals often use a rounded form for U and a pointed one for V. Fraktur capital U and V are distinct in Unicode but may look quite similar in design.

Common mistakes with Old English U

  • The U looks like a V because the base is pointed.

    Round or flatten the base so it does not meet in a single point.

  • The lowercase u has no foot and looks like n.

    Add the small foot on the right stem, and keep it consistent across the word.

  • The stems are not parallel.

    Use slant lines to keep both stems at the same angle.

Ideas for Old English U

U is a valuable initial for names like Uma, Ulrich or Ursula, and for place names such as Utrecht on a vintage label. Pairing U with V in a monogram is possible, but make sure they are clearly distinct, since they can easily be mistaken for each other.

Printable Old English U sheet

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

Old English letter U u Name: ____________________ · coolletteringgenerator.com

Old English U you can copy and paste

Both the capital U and the lowercase u have normal mathematical Fraktur forms. Fraktur: 𝔘 (U+1D518) and 𝔲 (U+1D532). Bold Fraktur: 𝖀 (U+1D580) and 𝖚 (U+1D59A).

Old English U: questions

Why are U and V hard to tell apart?
They were once the same letter, and many blackletter capitals are built from similar strokes. To keep them distinct, round the base of U and bring V to a point. Keep a slight difference in width too. A rule of thumb is to compare the bottoms: a U settles on a curve, and a V comes to a point.
Is the foot on the lowercase u necessary?
In traditional blackletter, yes, since it identifies the letter and separates it from n. The foot is usually a small diamond at the baseline. Without it, the letter reads as an upside-down n. If you simplify the shape for a small logo, keep at least a hint of the foot.
How can I improve my U?
Practise the stems on a ruled sheet and join them at the bottom. Compare with n for stem weight and gap. Repeat until the counters look even and the base is smooth. Reading your lettering aloud as a word helps, since a U that looks like V will sound wrong in the name.

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