How to spell DONNA in sign language
Donna 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
O
NN
ALetter by letter
- D Index finger extended upward; middle, ring, and pinky curled to meet the thumb, forming a small circle.
- O All fingertips curved forward to touch the tip of the thumb, forming a closed O circle.
- N A fist with the thumb tucked under two fingers (index and middle), peeking out between the middle and ring fingers.
- N A fist with the thumb tucked under two fingers (index and middle), peeking out between the middle and ring fingers.
- A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
Double letters. DONNA 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.