How to spell EDINBURGH in sign language
Edinburgh fingerspelled in ASL is 9 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.
E
D
I
N
B
U
R
G
HLetter by letter
- E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
- D Index finger extended upward; middle, ring, and pinky curled to meet the thumb, forming a small circle.
- I Pinky extended upward; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into a fist with the thumb resting across them.
- N A fist with the thumb tucked under two fingers (index and middle), peeking out between the middle and ring fingers.
- B Four fingers straight up and together, thumb folded flat across the palm.
- U Index and middle fingers extended straight up and held tightly together; thumb holds ring and pinky down.
- R Index and middle fingers extended upward and crossed (middle finger over index); thumb holds the ring and pinky down.
- G Index finger pointing sideways with the thumb extended parallel to it; other fingers curled into the palm.
- H Index and middle fingers extended together, pointing sideways; thumb holds the ring and pinky down.
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.