How to spell JEDDAH in sign language
Jeddah fingerspelled in ASL is 6 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.
J
E
DD
A
HLetter by letter
- J Pinky extended from a fist, tracing a J-shaped hook downward in the air.
- E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
- D Index finger extended upward; middle, ring, and pinky curled to meet the thumb, forming a small circle.
- D Index finger extended upward; middle, ring, and pinky curled to meet the thumb, forming a small circle.
- A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
- H Index and middle fingers extended together, pointing sideways; thumb holds the ring and pinky down.
Double letters. JEDDAH 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.
Motion letter. J cannot be held still: it is drawn in the air rather than posed. Everything else in JEDDAH is a static handshape.
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.