How to spell NEW YORK in sign language
New York 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.
N
E
W·
Y
O
R
KLetter by letter
- N A fist with the thumb tucked under two fingers (index and middle), peeking out between the middle and ring fingers.
- E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
- W Index, middle, and ring fingers extended upward and spread; thumb holds the pinky finger down.
- Y Thumb and pinky extended outward to opposite sides; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into the palm.
- O All fingertips curved forward to touch the tip of the thumb, forming a closed O circle.
- R Index and middle fingers extended upward and crossed (middle finger over index); thumb holds the ring and pinky down.
- K Index and middle fingers extended upward in a V, with the thumb placed between them resting on the middle finger knuckle; ring and pinky curled.
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.