Spell a word · 5 letters

How to spell REDDY in sign language

Reddy fingerspelled in ASL is 5 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
ASL handshape for the letter DD
ASL handshape for the letter YY

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.
  4. D Index finger extended upward; middle, ring, and pinky curled to meet the thumb, forming a small circle.
  5. Y Thumb and pinky extended outward to opposite sides; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into the palm.

Double letters. REDDY has the same letter twice in a row. Do not re-form it: hold the handshape and slide the hand slightly to the side, or give it a small bounce, so the reader sees two.

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.