Fingerspelling in American Sign Language (ASL) is the process of using hand shapes to represent individual letters of the alphabet. It's typically used to spell out names, proper nouns, or specific words that don't have a designated sign. Each letter is formed by a distinct hand position, and fingerspelling allows for clear communication of words that need to be spelled out, often used when signing to refer to specific places, brands, or other instances where spelling is essential.
Please enjoy our downloadable ASL Alphabet pdf to have at hand whenever you need a quick reference for signing each letter — and feel free to pass this pdf along to anyone who wants to start learning American Sign Language.
Raise your dominant hand to about chest level and form the letters in a smooth manner. Try your best not to bounce as you go from one letter to another.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Learn more signs on our regularly updated ASL page! As you're picking up sign language, try using Ava for more meaningful conversations with Deaf and hard-of-hearing people.