Spell a word · 5 letters

How to spell HANOI in sign language

Hanoi 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 HH
ASL handshape for the letter AA
ASL handshape for the letter NN
ASL handshape for the letter OO
ASL handshape for the letter II

Letter by letter

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

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.