Spell a word · 5 letters

How to spell JIWOO in sign language

Jiwoo 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 JJ
ASL handshape for the letter II
ASL handshape for the letter WW
ASL handshape for the letter OO
ASL handshape for the letter OO

Letter by letter

  1. J Pinky extended from a fist, tracing a J-shaped hook downward in the air.
  2. I Pinky extended upward; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into a fist with the thumb resting across them.
  3. W Index, middle, and ring fingers extended upward and spread; thumb holds the pinky finger down.
  4. O All fingertips curved forward to touch the tip of the thumb, forming a closed O circle.
  5. O All fingertips curved forward to touch the tip of the thumb, forming a closed O circle.

Double letters. JIWOO 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 JIWOO 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.