How to spell MUSIC in sign language
Music 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
U
S
I
CLetter by letter
- M A fist with the thumb tucked under three fingers (index, middle, ring), peeking out between the ring and pinky fingers.
- U Index and middle fingers extended straight up and held tightly together; thumb holds ring and pinky down.
- S A closed fist with the thumb wrapped across the front of all curled fingers.
- I Pinky extended upward; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into a fist with the thumb resting across them.
- C Fingers and thumb curved into an open C shape, palm facing sideways.
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.