Spell a word · 8 letters

How to spell AUCKLAND in sign language

Auckland fingerspelled in ASL is 8 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 UU
ASL handshape for the letter CC
ASL handshape for the letter KK
ASL handshape for the letter LL
ASL handshape for the letter AA
ASL handshape for the letter NN
ASL handshape for the letter DD

Letter by letter

  1. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
  2. U Index and middle fingers extended straight up and held tightly together; thumb holds ring and pinky down.
  3. C Fingers and thumb curved into an open C shape, palm facing sideways.
  4. 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.
  5. L Index finger pointing straight up and thumb extended outward to form an L; other three fingers curled into the palm.
  6. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
  7. N A fist with the thumb tucked under two fingers (index and middle), peeking out between the middle and ring fingers.
  8. D Index finger extended upward; middle, ring, and pinky curled to meet the thumb, forming a small circle.

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.