Spell a word · 6 letters

How to spell SANJAY in sign language

Sanjay 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 SS
ASL handshape for the letter AA
ASL handshape for the letter NN
ASL handshape for the letter JJ
ASL handshape for the letter AA
ASL handshape for the letter YY

Letter by letter

  1. S A closed fist with the thumb wrapped across the front of all curled fingers.
  2. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
  3. N A fist with the thumb tucked under two fingers (index and middle), peeking out between the middle and ring fingers.
  4. J Pinky extended from a fist, tracing a J-shaped hook downward in the air.
  5. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
  6. Y Thumb and pinky extended outward to opposite sides; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into the palm.

Motion letter. J cannot be held still: it is drawn in the air rather than posed. Everything else in SANJAY is a static handshape.

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.