How to spell MAYBE in sign language
Maybe fingerspelled in ASL is 5 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.
M
A
Y
B
ELetter by letter
- 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.
- Y Thumb and pinky extended outward to opposite sides; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into the palm.
- B Four fingers straight up and together, thumb folded flat across the palm.
- E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
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.