Spell a word · 6 letters

How to spell DONALD in sign language

Donald 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 DD
ASL handshape for the letter OO
ASL handshape for the letter NN
ASL handshape for the letter AA
ASL handshape for the letter LL
ASL handshape for the letter DD

Letter by letter

  1. D Index finger extended upward; middle, ring, and pinky curled to meet the thumb, forming a small circle.
  2. O All fingertips curved forward to touch the tip of the thumb, forming a closed O circle.
  3. N A fist with the thumb tucked under two fingers (index and middle), peeking out between the middle and ring fingers.
  4. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
  5. L Index finger pointing straight up and thumb extended outward to form an L; other three fingers curled into the palm.
  6. 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.