Spell a word · 6 letters

How to spell PHOEBE in sign language

Phoebe fingerspelled in ASL is 6 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 PP
ASL handshape for the letter HH
ASL handshape for the letter OO
ASL handshape for the letter EE
ASL handshape for the letter BB
ASL handshape for the letter EE

Letter by letter

  1. P Same handshape as K, but angled downward with the index and middle fingers pointing toward the ground.
  2. H Index and middle fingers extended together, pointing sideways; thumb holds the ring and pinky down.
  3. O All fingertips curved forward to touch the tip of the thumb, forming a closed O circle.
  4. E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
  5. B Four fingers straight up and together, thumb folded flat across the palm.
  6. E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.

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.