Spell a word · 4 letters

How to spell CRUZ in sign language

Cruz fingerspelled in ASL is 4 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 RR
ASL handshape for the letter UU
ASL handshape for the letter ZZ

Letter by letter

  1. C Fingers and thumb curved into an open C shape, palm facing sideways.
  2. R Index and middle fingers extended upward and crossed (middle finger over index); 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. Z Index finger extended straight out from a fist, drawing a Z path in the air.

Motion letter. Z cannot be held still: it is drawn in the air rather than posed. Everything else in CRUZ is a static handshape.

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.