Spell a word · 5 letters

How to spell AKARI in sign language

Akari 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 KK
ASL handshape for the letter AA
ASL handshape for the letter RR
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. K Index and middle fingers extended upward in a V, with the thumb placed between them resting on the middle finger knuckle; ring and pinky curled.
  3. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
  4. R Index and middle fingers extended upward and crossed (middle finger over index); thumb holds the ring and pinky down.
  5. 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.