How to spell HAMZA in sign language
Hamza 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.
H
A
M
ZALetter by letter
- H Index and middle fingers extended together, pointing sideways; thumb holds the ring and pinky down.
- A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
- M A fist with the thumb tucked under three fingers (index, middle, ring), peeking out between the ring and pinky fingers.
- Z Index finger extended straight out from a fist, drawing a Z path in the air.
- A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
Motion letter. Z cannot be held still: it is drawn in the air rather than posed. Everything else in HAMZA is a static handshape.
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.