Spell a word · 6 letters

How to spell CHURCH in sign language

Church 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.

ASL handshape for the letter CC
ASL handshape for the letter HH
ASL handshape for the letter UU
ASL handshape for the letter RR
ASL handshape for the letter CC
ASL handshape for the letter HH

Letter by letter

  1. C Fingers and thumb curved into an open C shape, palm facing sideways.
  2. H Index and middle fingers extended together, pointing sideways; thumb holds the ring and pinky down.
  3. U Index and middle fingers extended straight up and held tightly together; thumb holds ring and pinky down.
  4. R Index and middle fingers extended upward and crossed (middle finger over index); thumb holds the ring and pinky down.
  5. C Fingers and thumb curved into an open C shape, palm facing sideways.
  6. H Index and middle fingers extended together, pointing sideways; thumb holds the ring and pinky down.

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.