Spell a word · 4 letters

How to spell JUNE in sign language

June 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 NN
ASL handshape for the letter EE

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. N A fist with the thumb tucked under two fingers (index and middle), peeking out between the middle and ring fingers.
  4. E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.

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