How to spell CANADA in sign language
Canada 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.
C
A
NA
DALetter by letter
- C Fingers and thumb curved into an open C shape, palm facing sideways.
- A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
- N A fist with the thumb tucked under two fingers (index and middle), peeking out between the middle and ring fingers.
- A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
- D Index finger extended upward; middle, ring, and pinky curled to meet the thumb, forming a small circle.
- A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
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.