Spell a word · 4 letters

How to spell LUCY in sign language

Lucy 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 LL
ASL handshape for the letter UU
ASL handshape for the letter CC
ASL handshape for the letter YY

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. U Index and middle fingers extended straight up and held tightly together; thumb holds ring and pinky down.
  3. C Fingers and thumb curved into an open C shape, palm facing sideways.
  4. Y Thumb and pinky extended outward to opposite sides; index, middle, and ring 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.