Spell a word · 5 letters

How to spell ISAAC in sign language

Isaac 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 II
ASL handshape for the letter SS
ASL handshape for the letter AA
ASL handshape for the letter AA
ASL handshape for the letter CC

Letter by letter

  1. I Pinky extended upward; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into a fist with the thumb resting across them.
  2. S A closed fist with the thumb wrapped across the front of all curled fingers.
  3. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
  4. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
  5. C Fingers and thumb curved into an open C shape, palm facing sideways.

Double letters. ISAAC 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.