How to spell ELIZABETH in sign language
Elizabeth 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
L
I
Z
A
BE
T
HLetter by letter
- E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
- L Index finger pointing straight up and thumb extended outward to form an L; other three fingers curled into the palm.
- I Pinky extended upward; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into a fist with the thumb resting across them.
- Z Index finger extended straight out from a fist, drawing a Z path in the air.
- A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
- B Four fingers straight up and together, thumb folded flat across the palm.
- E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
- T A fist with the thumb tucked under the index finger, peeking out between the index and middle fingers.
- H Index and middle fingers extended together, pointing sideways; thumb holds the ring and pinky down.
Motion letter. Z cannot be held still: it is drawn in the air rather than posed. Everything else in ELIZABETH is a static handshape.
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.