How to Finger Spell in ASL (American Sign Language)

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How to Finger Spell in ASL (American Sign Language)

Ron Jaxon

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Did you ever want to learn sign language? I've been deaf for the last 20 years of my life and I've taught ASL to dozens of people. Even if they don't know anyone that's deaf. People just love ASL.

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Not only is it a fun and expressive language. It can also be useful. Tell someone a secret or talk through glass doors. Ask the person on the phone a question silently.

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And of course improve communication with someone who's deaf or hard of hearing. It's my dream that everyone at least learns the alphabet. So I put together this guide with memory aids.

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A: The hand shape for A almost looks like a cursive "a". The thumb represents the tail.

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B: The little finger and thumb form a small "b".

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C: Yes it's backwards but to the person you're signing to it'll look like a "C".

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D: Hand forms a small "d". Remember the index finger is extended. Not the little finger.

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E: The thumb represents the middle line of a small "e".

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F: Here's a memory aid for the letter F. If someone made this hand shape to you they'd be saying "Ok". Usually accompanied by a winked eye. "ok" means "Fine". Fine starts with "F".

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G: This is a common hand shape you'd make if you where telling someone to "Go" somewhere. Go starts with G.

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H: I really don't know why this is "H". But I remember it by thinking of the two fingers representing the middle line of an "H". Or just remember it fallows G and you add a second finger.

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I: Just extend your little finger. "i".

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J: The letter J has movement so I had to make this short video. You simply draw a letter J with your little finger. I sign it twice in this video. Only drawn once when actually signing it.

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K: Point your index finger to the ceiling. Your middle finger to the side and tuck your thumb between them. A memory aid will be added to both "K" and "P". Since they both share the same hand shape.

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L: Pretty self explanatory here. Thumb and index fingers form an "L".

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M: Tuck your thumb under 3 fingers. The three fingers represent the three humps on a cursive "m".

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N: Same as M except only two fingers over the thumb to represent the two humps on a cursive "n".

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O: I don't think this one needs any explanation. :0

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P: The finger positions are exactly like the letter K except the hand is angled differently. The index finger is pointing to the side instead of up.

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A memory aid for the letters K and P is to think of the military having to do "KP" duty. Same hand shapes. Just different angles.

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Q: Imagine there's a Q-tip on a table in front of you. This hand shape is how you'd pick the Q-tip up.

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R: cRoss your fingers. The letter R is a dominant sound in the word cRoss.

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S: Place your thumb across the front of your fist. Thumb position is important. Thumb could represent the curved line in the middle of an "S".

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T: Tuck thumb under index finger. The thumb and index finger form a "T" from a side view. (The side view is just a memory aid. When signing T have palm toward the person you're signing to).

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U: Index and middle fingers pointing up. Its important that your fingers are touching each other.

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V: Just like U but the fingers are separated to form a "V" shape. This is why the fingers have to be touching in U.

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W: three fingers form a "W" shape.

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X: A lot of people have a hard time remembering how to sign X. Imagine your curved index finger doing one finger pull ups on a big "X" above you. The sillier the better as far as memory aids go.

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Y: Form a "Y" with your little finger and thumb. Ironically Hawaii has no letter "Y" in it. :).

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Z: This is another one that requires a video because of the movement required. Simply draw a "Z" in the air with your INDEX finger. Do not draw with little finger which is a common mistake.

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There you have it. All 26 letters of the ASL alphabet. It's not as hard to memorize as some might think. I hope these visuals and memory aids will help memorize them.

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You can practice finger spelling any time. Day or night. Spell out words you see on street signs. Spell the words of a song. You can practice any time.

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It's also recommended that you practice with a friend. Because there are two parts to ASL. reading and speaking. You can sign fast because your mind is ahead of your hands. So practice reading too.

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One last point. It doesn't matter which hand you finger spell with. But you must only use one hand to spell with. Don't jump from one hand to the other.

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I hope someone finds this helpful. Enjoy!

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Check out other guides by this author!

Ron Jaxon

michigan

I'm a semi professional magician. Graphic designer. I've been deaf almost 20 years but i can hear now thanks to the cochlear implant I got almost 2 years ago.

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Sunan Siriwutwiwat

Bangkok, Thailand

I just sent this to my new sister-in-law so she can learn it because I'm not able to be there in person to teach her.

A K last week

Thank you so much for this! So much more helpful than any other YouTube video!!

Katelin Starck 9 months ago

Ok thank you very much

Random Practice 12 months ago

Sure. They'll understand just fine. The reason you only use one hand (don't matter which hand) is so when you put your hand up to spell they'll instantly know where to look. But if you jump from hand to hand it'll confuse them. So yes. They'll understand no matter which hand you use. Left handed people tend to sign with left hand. Right with right hand.

Ron Jaxon (author) 12 months ago

Ok can people still understand it good when you use your left?

Random Practice 12 months ago

Either hand but only use one hand. Don't jump back and forth.

Ron Jaxon (author) 12 months ago

Can you do it with your left hand or does it have to be your right

Random Practice 12 months ago

I'm not sure of any specific places in CA. But try some local community colleges. Also look for any deaf groups in the area. Sometimes they gather together in sort of clubs and do things together like softball or bowling teams. Once you learn the basics such as finger spelling. Spending time with people deaf people are a great way to learn if you befriend them.

Ron Jaxon (author) last year

Thank you so much for sharing! I'm very much a visual person, so this will help me remember so much easier. I would love to learn more from you.

Chelsea Lyon 🍡 last year

Going*

Hussain Kadhim last year

Ty, now know all the ASL Letters!,keep goig

Hussain Kadhim last year

you are really good i learned sighn language from a dictionary but i wanted to make sure i was correct

Abby Eisenhart last year

It's a great guide,but sadly it's not loading the photos,but it's okay I'll learn it later,ty ^^

Hussain Kadhim last year

I meant thanks for your input. :)

Ron Jaxon (author) last year

Thanks for adding those points and clarifications. To be honest I'm not 100% fluent in ASL. Because I didn't grow up in any kind of deaf culture. So I didn't have many people in my day to say life to sign with. For me it was more if a back up. If I'd say "what?" a few times they'd finger spell a key word or two for me. So I'm not surprised that some of my hand shapes might not be as polished as someone that's more fluent then I am. I can hold a conversation in ASL. But at times I'd need words I don't know finger spelled for me. So that's for your input.

Ron Jaxon (author) last year

The M, and N respectively should be signed differently. Where Ron says to tuck your index, middle, and index fingers for M, please do not get in that habit. Please!!! Open up and do not tuck the M inward... Just simply move three fingers straight-forward but not where it's flat-straight... You want it downward but not tucked in! Same thing with N. why? Because those are the hardest letters of ASL to "read" and can resemble something else. It's like reading. Some are dyslexic. Well signing can do the same which is why it's important to be neat. Now please please do keep in mind with what Ron said about the hand shapes, his 'B' example... He's spot on. But with finger spelling neatness is the first and most important thing we look for. I've been teaching level III, IV for over 33 years. I'm in no way arguing a single thing with Ron's teaching and wouldn't do that to our community, ever. Sometimes a little extra help comes in handy. I hope this was alright Ron. Your tutorial was fabulous!!!

Heidi Feldman last year

G, the thumb is usually not place down as deep as Ron's... Is he wrong? No! Not at all! I know what you're thinking/asking... We all change over the years... Sign language for the majority if us is our only means of true and total communication. Arthritis is the number one pitfalls we get as we age and lovingly so! His G is acceptable, to make it neater, pick up your thumb and bend it like the shape of a gun... Now very, very important... Next

Heidi Feldman last year

Ugly Betty, Brits and American Deaf population are closer than any other country... We've been seeing numerous "former" BSL slowly changing in favour of the more simplified ASL signs. However, those who are our age tend to stick with what we've known all our lives. It's the younger generation who's adapting to new changes. I am not a candidate for the cochlear implant (CI). My husband is also not a candidate for the CI. I do not mind hearing sounds now and then. I have extremely LOW-tolerance for sounds. I get terrible migraines if I listen to at least 20 mins or more of sounds. It's too 'busy' for me. I want to add a couple more things that Ron said... For his awesome examples of hand shapes, he's spot on and THANKS RON!!! Now for the letters, F, G, M, N, the 'F' is neater if you close your middle, ring, index fingers side by side which I will explain next as this is too long...

Heidi Feldman last year

Thank you!

Jodi Lee last year

Your awesome!!

Katelyn Sproles last year

Thanks for making this guide.

Eric I last year

I've always been into asl. You should keep making tutorials, I would love to learn more!

Mari Ullom last year

I'm English but I'm defo gonna practice this! Thx 😃

Ugly Betty last year

One more point. There are accents in ASL just like any language. You might find small variations of hand shapes. The basic is the same but some areas might have little changes. For example I know some people that sign the letter "B" with the thumb on the side of their hand instead of in front.

Ron Jaxon (author) last year

One more thing I should have added. When spelling words that have a single letter repeated. For example "moon". You make the letter hand shape. In this case "O". And bounce it to the side once to give the second "O". M-O-(bounce)-O-N.

Ron Jaxon (author) last year

Papa Hawg. Yes. When you finger spell your hand takes center stage of attention. Their eyes will jump right to the spelling hand when you put the hand in "finger spelling" position. When you get fluent at both signing and reading. You can read the words almost outbid the corner of your eye. Like reading a book we don't see every letter. Just the word. But that takes lots of practice.

Ron Jaxon (author) last year

Thank you

Inna Inna last year

Great idea to use this for such a good purpose

Liz Stribbs last year

Nice guide this is really cool :)

Kylie Owen last year

I was taught that when you sign, it's best to keep your hand as still as possible. People tend to raise and lower their hand for each letter.

Papa Hawg last year

Nice. Good job.

Maice Lee last year

Nice. Fun to see how different it is to BSL!

Pretty Mae last year

Awesome guide my sister is deaf and I know how to sign but it would be so much neater if everyone knew how to do it!

Krista Ivie last year

Your real say you have been deaf for the last 20 yer of your life?

Lana Salahaldin 3 months ago

Ron Jaxon (author) 3 months ago

How old are you

Lana Salahaldin 3 months ago

I've had hearing loss all my life. Got my first hearing aids in about 4th grade. My hearing continued to decrease as I got older. I'd get newer more powerful hearing aids every few years as my hearing decreased. By late teens to early twenties it decreased to deafness. Nerve damage and ear infections and partly hereditary. My sister is also profoundly hard of hearing.

Ron Jaxon (author) 7 months ago