Spell a word · 3 letters

How to spell OLD in sign language

Old fingerspelled in ASL is 3 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 OO
ASL handshape for the letter LL
ASL handshape for the letter DD

Letter by letter

  1. O All fingertips curved forward to touch the tip of the thumb, forming a closed O circle.
  2. L Index finger pointing straight up and thumb extended outward to form an L; other three fingers curled into the palm.
  3. D Index finger extended upward; middle, ring, and pinky curled to meet the thumb, forming a small 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.