Spell a word · 4 letters

How to spell JUAN in sign language

Juan 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 JJ
ASL handshape for the letter UU
ASL handshape for the letter AA
ASL handshape for the letter NN

Letter by letter

  1. J Pinky extended from a fist, tracing a J-shaped hook downward in the air.
  2. U Index and middle fingers extended straight up and held tightly together; thumb holds ring and pinky down.
  3. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
  4. N A fist with the thumb tucked under two fingers (index and middle), peeking out between the middle and ring fingers.

Motion letter. J cannot be held still: it is drawn in the air rather than posed. Everything else in JUAN 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.