Spell a word · 3 letters

How to spell EMI in sign language

Emi fingerspelled in ASL is 3 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 EE
ASL handshape for the letter MM
ASL handshape for the letter II

Letter by letter

  1. E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
  2. M A fist with the thumb tucked under three fingers (index, middle, ring), peeking out between the ring and pinky fingers.
  3. I Pinky extended upward; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into a fist with the thumb resting across them.

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.