Spell a word · 3 letters

How to spell RIO in sign language

Rio 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 II
ASL handshape for the letter OO

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. I Pinky extended upward; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into a fist with the thumb resting across them.
  3. O All fingertips curved forward to touch the tip of the thumb, forming a closed O 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.