How to spell ALEX in sign language
Alex fingerspelled in ASL is 4 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.
Letter by letter
- A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
- L Index finger pointing straight up and thumb extended outward to form an L; other three fingers curled into the palm.
- E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
- X Index finger extended and bent into a hook at the knuckle; other fingers curled into a fist with the thumb alongside.
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.