Spell a word · 8 letters

How to spell ABU DHABI in sign language

Abu Dhabi fingerspelled in ASL is 8 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 UU
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ASL handshape for the letter DD
ASL handshape for the letter HH
ASL handshape for the letter AA
ASL handshape for the letter BB
ASL handshape for the letter II

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. U Index and middle fingers extended straight up and held tightly together; thumb holds ring and pinky down.
  4. D Index finger extended upward; middle, ring, and pinky curled to meet the thumb, forming a small circle.
  5. H Index and middle fingers extended together, pointing sideways; thumb holds the ring and pinky down.
  6. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
  7. B Four fingers straight up and together, thumb folded flat across the palm.
  8. I Pinky extended upward; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into a fist with the thumb resting across them.

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.