Spell a word · 4 letters

How to spell MOON in sign language

Moon 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 MM
ASL handshape for the letter OO
ASL handshape for the letter OO
ASL handshape for the letter NN

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. O All fingertips curved forward to touch the tip of the thumb, forming a closed O circle.
  3. O All fingertips curved forward to touch the tip of the thumb, forming a closed O circle.
  4. N A fist with the thumb tucked under two fingers (index and middle), peeking out between the middle and ring fingers.

Double letters. MOON has the same letter twice in a row. Do not re-form it: hold the handshape and slide the hand slightly to the side, or give it a small bounce, so the reader sees two.

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.