Spell a word · 2 letters

How to spell LI in sign language

Li fingerspelled in ASL is 2 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 LL
ASL handshape for the letter II

Letter by letter

  1. L Index finger pointing straight up and thumb extended outward to form an L; other three fingers curled into the palm.
  2. I Pinky extended upward; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into a fist with the thumb resting across them.

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.