Spell a word · 4 letters

How to spell GOOD in sign language

Good 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 GG
ASL handshape for the letter OO
ASL handshape for the letter OO
ASL handshape for the letter DD

Letter by letter

  1. G Index finger pointing sideways with the thumb extended parallel to it; other fingers curled into the palm.
  2. O All fingertips curved forward to touch the tip of the thumb, forming a closed O circle.
  3. O All fingertips curved forward to touch the tip of the thumb, forming a closed O circle.
  4. D Index finger extended upward; middle, ring, and pinky curled to meet the thumb, forming a small circle.

Double letters. GOOD has the same letter twice in a row. Do not re-form it: hold the handshape and slide the hand slightly to the side, or give it a small bounce, so the reader sees two.

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.