Spell a word · 8 letters

How to spell I LOVE YOU in sign language

I Love You fingerspelled in ASL is 8 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 II
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ASL handshape for the letter LL
ASL handshape for the letter OO
ASL handshape for the letter VV
ASL handshape for the letter EE
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ASL handshape for the letter YY
ASL handshape for the letter OO
ASL handshape for the letter UU

Letter by letter

  1. I Pinky extended upward; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into a fist with the thumb resting across them.
  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. V Index and middle fingers extended straight up and spread into a V; thumb holds ring and pinky down.
  5. E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
  6. Y Thumb and pinky extended outward to opposite sides; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into the palm.
  7. O All fingertips curved forward to touch the tip of the thumb, forming a closed O circle.
  8. U Index and middle fingers extended straight up and held tightly together; thumb holds 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.