How to spell JUDY in sign language
Judy 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.
J
U
D
YLetter by letter
- J Pinky extended from a fist, tracing a J-shaped hook downward in the air.
- U Index and middle fingers extended straight up and held tightly together; thumb holds ring and pinky down.
- D Index finger extended upward; middle, ring, and pinky curled to meet the thumb, forming a small circle.
- Y Thumb and pinky extended outward to opposite sides; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into the palm.
Motion letter. J cannot be held still: it is drawn in the air rather than posed. Everything else in JUDY 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.