How to spell DAVID in sign language
David fingerspelled in ASL is 5 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.
D
A
V
IDLetter by letter
- D Index finger extended upward; middle, ring, and pinky curled to meet the thumb, forming a small circle.
- A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
- V Index and middle fingers extended straight up and spread into a V; thumb holds ring and pinky down.
- I Pinky extended upward; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into a fist with the thumb resting across them.
- D Index finger extended upward; middle, ring, and pinky curled to meet the thumb, forming a small circle.
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.