Spell a word · 9 letters

How to spell HO CHI MINH in sign language

Ho Chi Minh fingerspelled in ASL is 9 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 OO
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ASL handshape for the letter CC
ASL handshape for the letter HH
ASL handshape for the letter II
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ASL handshape for the letter MM
ASL handshape for the letter II
ASL handshape for the letter NN
ASL handshape for the letter HH

Letter by letter

  1. H Index and middle fingers extended together, pointing sideways; thumb holds the ring and pinky down.
  2. O All fingertips curved forward to touch the tip of the thumb, forming a closed O circle.
  3. C Fingers and thumb curved into an open C shape, palm facing sideways.
  4. H Index and middle fingers extended together, pointing sideways; thumb holds the ring and pinky down.
  5. I Pinky extended upward; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into a fist with the thumb resting across them.
  6. M A fist with the thumb tucked under three fingers (index, middle, ring), peeking out between the ring and pinky fingers.
  7. I Pinky extended upward; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into a fist with the thumb resting across them.
  8. N A fist with the thumb tucked under two fingers (index and middle), peeking out between the middle and ring fingers.
  9. H Index and middle fingers extended together, pointing sideways; 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.