How to spell JESUS in sign language
Jesus 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.
J
E
S
USLetter 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.
- S A closed fist with the thumb wrapped across the front of all curled fingers.
- U Index and middle fingers extended straight up and held tightly together; thumb holds ring and pinky down.
- S A closed fist with the thumb wrapped across the front of all curled fingers.
Motion letter. J cannot be held still: it is drawn in the air rather than posed. Everything else in JESUS 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.