Spell a word · 8 letters

How to spell DANIELLE in sign language

Danielle fingerspelled in ASL is 8 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 DD
ASL handshape for the letter AA
ASL handshape for the letter NN
ASL handshape for the letter II
ASL handshape for the letter EE
ASL handshape for the letter LL
ASL handshape for the letter LL
ASL handshape for the letter EE

Letter by letter

  1. D Index finger extended upward; middle, ring, and pinky curled to meet the thumb, forming a small circle.
  2. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
  3. N A fist with the thumb tucked under two fingers (index and middle), peeking out between the middle and ring fingers.
  4. I Pinky extended upward; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into a fist with the thumb resting across them.
  5. E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
  6. L Index finger pointing straight up and thumb extended outward to form an L; other three fingers curled into the palm.
  7. L Index finger pointing straight up and thumb extended outward to form an L; other three fingers curled into the palm.
  8. E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.

Double letters. DANIELLE has the same letter twice in a row. Do not re-form it: hold the handshape and slide the hand slightly to the side, or give it a small bounce, so the reader sees two.

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.