Spell a word · 10 letters

How to spell ALEXANDRIA in sign language

Alexandria 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.

ASL handshape for the letter AA
ASL handshape for the letter LL
ASL handshape for the letter EE
ASL handshape for the letter XX
ASL handshape for the letter AA
ASL handshape for the letter NN
ASL handshape for the letter DD
ASL handshape for the letter RR
ASL handshape for the letter II
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. L Index finger pointing straight up and thumb extended outward to form an L; other three fingers curled into the palm.
  3. E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
  4. X Index finger extended and bent into a hook at the knuckle; other fingers curled into a fist with the thumb alongside.
  5. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
  6. N A fist with the thumb tucked under two fingers (index and middle), peeking out between the middle and ring fingers.
  7. D Index finger extended upward; middle, ring, and pinky curled to meet the thumb, forming a small circle.
  8. R Index and middle fingers extended upward and crossed (middle finger over index); thumb holds the ring and pinky down.
  9. I Pinky extended upward; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into a fist with the thumb resting across them.
  10. 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.