Spell a word · 6 letters

How to spell ANJALI in sign language

Anjali 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.

ASL handshape for the letter AA
ASL handshape for the letter NN
ASL handshape for the letter JJ
ASL handshape for the letter AA
ASL handshape for the letter LL
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. N A fist with the thumb tucked under two fingers (index and middle), peeking out between the middle and ring fingers.
  3. J Pinky extended from a fist, tracing a J-shaped hook downward in the air.
  4. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
  5. L Index finger pointing straight up and thumb extended outward to form an L; other three fingers curled into the palm.
  6. I Pinky extended upward; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into a fist with the thumb resting across them.

Motion letter. J cannot be held still: it is drawn in the air rather than posed. Everything else in ANJALI is a static handshape.

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.