Spell a word · 10 letters

How to spell CASABLANCA in sign language

Casablanca fingerspelled in ASL is 10 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 SS
ASL handshape for the letter AA
ASL handshape for the letter BB
ASL handshape for the letter LL
ASL handshape for the letter AA
ASL handshape for the letter NN
ASL handshape for the letter CC
ASL handshape for the letter AA

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. S A closed fist with the thumb wrapped across the front of all curled fingers.
  4. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
  5. B Four fingers straight up and together, thumb folded flat across the palm.
  6. L Index finger pointing straight up and thumb extended outward to form an L; other three fingers curled into the palm.
  7. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
  8. N A fist with the thumb tucked under two fingers (index and middle), peeking out between the middle and ring fingers.
  9. C Fingers and thumb curved into an open C shape, palm facing sideways.
  10. 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.