How to spell MENDOZA in sign language
Mendoza fingerspelled in ASL is 7 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
E
N
D
O
Z
ALetter by letter
- M A fist with the thumb tucked under three fingers (index, middle, ring), peeking out between the ring and pinky fingers.
- E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
- 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.
- O All fingertips curved forward to touch the tip of the thumb, forming a closed O circle.
- Z Index finger extended straight out from a fist, drawing a Z path in the air.
- A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
Motion letter. Z cannot be held still: it is drawn in the air rather than posed. Everything else in MENDOZA is a static handshape.
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.