Spell a word · 7 letters

How to spell ABIGAIL in sign language

Abigail fingerspelled in ASL is 7 handshapes, signed one after another with the palm facing out. Hold each for a beat and keep the hand in one place; the letters carry the word, not the movement.

ASL handshape for the letter AA
ASL handshape for the letter BB
ASL handshape for the letter II
ASL handshape for the letter GG
ASL handshape for the letter AA
ASL handshape for the letter II
ASL handshape for the letter LL

Letter by letter

  1. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
  2. B Four fingers straight up and together, thumb folded flat across the palm.
  3. I Pinky extended upward; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into a fist with the thumb resting across them.
  4. G Index finger pointing sideways with the thumb extended parallel to it; other fingers curled into the palm.
  5. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
  6. I Pinky extended upward; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into a fist with the thumb resting across them.
  7. L Index finger pointing straight up and thumb extended outward to form an L; other three fingers curled into the palm.

Fingerspelling is how ASL handles names, places, brands and words without a sign of their own. Many everyday words do have a sign, so if you are learning ASL as a language, learn that sign too; this page shows how the word is spelled with the manual alphabet.