How to spell ADDIS ABABA in sign language
Addis Ababa fingerspelled in ASL is 10 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.
A
DD
I
S·
A
BABALetter by letter
- A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
- D Index finger extended upward; middle, ring, and pinky curled to meet the thumb, forming a small circle.
- D Index finger extended upward; middle, ring, and pinky curled to meet the thumb, forming a small circle.
- I Pinky extended upward; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into a fist with the thumb resting across them.
- S A closed fist with the thumb wrapped across the front of all curled fingers.
- A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
- B Four fingers straight up and together, thumb folded flat across the palm.
- A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
- B Four fingers straight up and together, thumb folded flat across the palm.
- A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
Double letters. ADDIS ABABA has the same letter twice in a row. Do not re-form it: hold the handshape and slide the hand slightly to the side, or give it a small bounce, so the reader sees two.
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.