Spell a word · 8 letters

How to spell MY NAME IS in sign language

My Name Is fingerspelled in ASL is 8 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 YY
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ASL handshape for the letter NN
ASL handshape for the letter AA
ASL handshape for the letter MM
ASL handshape for the letter EE
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ASL handshape for the letter II
ASL handshape for the letter SS

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. Y Thumb and pinky extended outward to opposite sides; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into the palm.
  3. N A fist with the thumb tucked under two fingers (index and middle), peeking out between the middle and ring fingers.
  4. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
  5. M A fist with the thumb tucked under three fingers (index, middle, ring), peeking out between the ring and pinky fingers.
  6. E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
  7. I Pinky extended upward; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into a fist with the thumb resting across them.
  8. S A closed fist with the thumb wrapped across the front of all curled fingers.

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.