How to spell COPENHAGEN in sign language
Copenhagen 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.
C
O
P
E
N
H
A
GENLetter by letter
- C Fingers and thumb curved into an open C shape, palm facing sideways.
- O All fingertips curved forward to touch the tip of the thumb, forming a closed O circle.
- P Same handshape as K, but angled downward with the index and middle fingers pointing toward the ground.
- E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
- N A fist with the thumb tucked under two fingers (index and middle), peeking out between the middle and ring fingers.
- H Index and middle fingers extended together, pointing sideways; thumb holds the ring and pinky down.
- A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
- G Index finger pointing sideways with the thumb extended parallel to it; other fingers curled into the palm.
- E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
- N A fist with the thumb tucked under two fingers (index and middle), peeking out between the middle and ring fingers.
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.