Spell a word · 6 letters

How to spell POLAND in sign language

Poland 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 OO
ASL handshape for the letter LL
ASL handshape for the letter AA
ASL handshape for the letter NN
ASL handshape for the letter DD

Letter by letter

  1. P Same handshape as K, but angled downward with the index and middle fingers pointing toward the ground.
  2. O All fingertips curved forward to touch the tip of the thumb, forming a closed O circle.
  3. L Index finger pointing straight up and thumb extended outward to form an L; other three fingers curled into the palm.
  4. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
  5. N A fist with the thumb tucked under two fingers (index and middle), peeking out between the middle and ring fingers.
  6. 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.