How to spell LONG in sign language
Long 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.
L
O
N
GLetter by letter
- L Index finger pointing straight up and thumb extended outward to form an L; other three fingers curled into the palm.
- O All fingertips curved forward to touch the tip of the thumb, forming a closed O circle.
- N A fist with the thumb tucked under two fingers (index and middle), peeking out between the middle and ring fingers.
- G Index finger pointing sideways with the thumb extended parallel to it; other fingers curled into the palm.
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.