Spell a word · 5 letters

How to spell MINHO in sign language

Minho 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.

ASL handshape for the letter MM
ASL handshape for the letter II
ASL handshape for the letter NN
ASL handshape for the letter HH
ASL handshape for the letter OO

Letter by letter

  1. M A fist with the thumb tucked under three fingers (index, middle, ring), peeking out between the ring and pinky fingers.
  2. I Pinky extended upward; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into a fist with the thumb resting across them.
  3. N A fist with the thumb tucked under two fingers (index and middle), peeking out between the middle and ring fingers.
  4. H Index and middle fingers extended together, pointing sideways; thumb holds the ring and pinky down.
  5. O All fingertips curved forward to touch the tip of the thumb, forming a closed O circle.

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.