Spell a word · 6 letters

How to spell FLOWER in sign language

Flower fingerspelled in ASL is 6 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 LL
ASL handshape for the letter OO
ASL handshape for the letter WW
ASL handshape for the letter EE
ASL handshape for the letter RR

Letter by letter

  1. F Thumb and index fingertip touch to form a circle; middle, ring, and pinky extended upward and slightly spread.
  2. L Index finger pointing straight up and thumb extended outward to form an L; other three fingers curled into the palm.
  3. O All fingertips curved forward to touch the tip of the thumb, forming a closed O circle.
  4. W Index, middle, and ring fingers extended upward and spread; thumb holds the pinky finger down.
  5. E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
  6. R Index and middle fingers extended upward and crossed (middle finger over index); thumb holds the ring and pinky down.

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.