Spell a word · 5 letters

How to spell FIONA in sign language

Fiona fingerspelled in ASL is 5 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 II
ASL handshape for the letter OO
ASL handshape for the letter NN
ASL handshape for the letter AA

Letter by letter

  1. F Thumb and index fingertip touch to form a circle; middle, ring, and pinky extended upward and slightly spread.
  2. I Pinky extended upward; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into a fist with the thumb resting across them.
  3. O All fingertips curved forward to touch the tip of the thumb, forming a closed O circle.
  4. N A fist with the thumb tucked under two fingers (index and middle), peeking out between the middle and ring fingers.
  5. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.

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.