Spell a word · 5 letters

How to spell DREAM in sign language

Dream 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.

ASL handshape for the letter DD
ASL handshape for the letter RR
ASL handshape for the letter EE
ASL handshape for the letter AA
ASL handshape for the letter MM

Letter by letter

  1. D Index finger extended upward; middle, ring, and pinky curled to meet the thumb, forming a small circle.
  2. R Index and middle fingers extended upward and crossed (middle finger over index); thumb holds the ring and pinky down.
  3. E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
  4. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
  5. M A fist with the thumb tucked under three fingers (index, middle, ring), peeking out between the ring and pinky 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.