Spell a word · 4 letters

How to spell IYER in sign language

Iyer fingerspelled in ASL is 4 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 YY
ASL handshape for the letter EE
ASL handshape for the letter RR

Letter by letter

  1. I Pinky extended upward; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into a fist with the thumb resting across them.
  2. Y Thumb and pinky extended outward to opposite sides; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into the palm.
  3. E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
  4. R Index and middle fingers extended upward and crossed (middle finger over index); 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.