How to spell FEBRUARY in sign language
February fingerspelled in ASL is 8 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.
F
E
B
R
U
AR
YLetter by letter
- F Thumb and index fingertip touch to form a circle; middle, ring, and pinky extended upward and slightly spread.
- E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
- B Four fingers straight up and together, thumb folded flat across the palm.
- R Index and middle fingers extended upward and crossed (middle finger over index); thumb holds the ring and pinky down.
- U Index and middle fingers extended straight up and held tightly together; thumb holds ring and pinky down.
- A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
- R Index and middle fingers extended upward and crossed (middle finger over index); thumb holds the ring and pinky down.
- Y Thumb and pinky extended outward to opposite sides; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into the palm.
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.