Spell a word · 5 letters

How to spell CALEB in sign language

Caleb 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 CC
ASL handshape for the letter AA
ASL handshape for the letter LL
ASL handshape for the letter EE
ASL handshape for the letter BB

Letter by letter

  1. C Fingers and thumb curved into an open C shape, palm facing sideways.
  2. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
  3. L Index finger pointing straight up and thumb extended outward to form an L; other three fingers curled into the palm.
  4. E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
  5. B Four fingers straight up and together, thumb folded flat across 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.