Spell a word · 4 letters

How to spell QING in sign language

Qing fingerspelled in ASL is 4 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 QQ
ASL handshape for the letter II
ASL handshape for the letter NN
ASL handshape for the letter GG

Letter by letter

  1. Q Same handshape as G, but angled downward with the index and thumb pointing toward the ground.
  2. I Pinky extended upward; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into a fist with the thumb resting across them.
  3. N A fist with the thumb tucked under two fingers (index and middle), peeking out between the middle and ring fingers.
  4. G Index finger pointing sideways with the thumb extended parallel to it; other fingers curled into the palm.

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.