Spell a word · 5 letters

How to spell AISHA in sign language

Aisha fingerspelled in ASL is 5 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 II
ASL handshape for the letter SS
ASL handshape for the letter HH
ASL handshape for the letter AA

Letter by letter

  1. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
  2. I Pinky extended upward; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into a fist with the thumb resting across them.
  3. S A closed fist with the thumb wrapped across the front of all curled fingers.
  4. H Index and middle fingers extended together, pointing sideways; thumb holds the ring and pinky down.
  5. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.

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.