How to spell KATHMANDU in sign language
Kathmandu fingerspelled in ASL is 9 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.
K
A
T
H
MA
N
D
ULetter by letter
- K Index and middle fingers extended upward in a V, with the thumb placed between them resting on the middle finger knuckle; ring and pinky curled.
- A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
- T A fist with the thumb tucked under the index finger, peeking out between the index and middle fingers.
- H Index and middle fingers extended together, pointing sideways; thumb holds the ring and pinky down.
- M A fist with the thumb tucked under three fingers (index, middle, ring), peeking out between the ring and pinky fingers.
- A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
- N A fist with the thumb tucked under two fingers (index and middle), peeking out between the middle and ring fingers.
- D Index finger extended upward; middle, ring, and pinky curled to meet the thumb, forming a small circle.
- U Index and middle fingers extended straight up and held tightly together; thumb holds ring and pinky down.
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.