Spell a word · 3 letters

How to spell RED in sign language

Red 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 RR
ASL handshape for the letter EE
ASL handshape for the letter DD

Letter by letter

  1. R Index and middle fingers extended upward and crossed (middle finger over index); thumb holds the ring and pinky down.
  2. E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
  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.