Spell a word · 4 letters

How to spell FAST in sign language

Fast fingerspelled in ASL is 4 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 FF
ASL handshape for the letter AA
ASL handshape for the letter SS
ASL handshape for the letter TT

Letter by letter

  1. F Thumb and index fingertip touch to form a circle; middle, ring, and pinky extended upward and slightly spread.
  2. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
  3. S A closed fist with the thumb wrapped across the front of all curled fingers.
  4. T A fist with the thumb tucked under the index finger, peeking out between the index and middle 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.