How to spell ALWAYS in sign language
Always fingerspelled in ASL is 6 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
L
WA
Y
SLetter 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.
- W Index, middle, and ring fingers extended upward and spread; thumb holds the pinky finger down.
- A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
- Y Thumb and pinky extended outward to opposite sides; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into the palm.
- S A closed fist with the thumb wrapped across the front of all curled fingers.
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.