Spell a word · 5 letters

How to spell AVERY in sign language

Avery fingerspelled in ASL is 5 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 VV
ASL handshape for the letter EE
ASL handshape for the letter RR
ASL handshape for the letter YY

Letter by letter

  1. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
  2. V Index and middle fingers extended straight up and spread into a V; thumb holds ring and pinky down.
  3. E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
  4. R Index and middle fingers extended upward and crossed (middle finger over index); thumb holds the ring and pinky down.
  5. Y Thumb and pinky extended outward to opposite sides; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into the palm.

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.