Spell a word · 7 letters

How to spell DOUGLAS in sign language

Douglas fingerspelled in ASL is 7 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 UU
ASL handshape for the letter GG
ASL handshape for the letter LL
ASL handshape for the letter AA
ASL handshape for the letter SS

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. U Index and middle fingers extended straight up and held tightly together; thumb holds ring and pinky down.
  4. G Index finger pointing sideways with the thumb extended parallel to it; other fingers curled into the palm.
  5. L Index finger pointing straight up and thumb extended outward to form an L; other three fingers curled into the palm.
  6. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
  7. S A closed fist with the thumb wrapped across the front of all curled fingers.

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.