Spell a word · 8 letters

How to spell SANTIAGO in sign language

Santiago fingerspelled in ASL is 8 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 TT
ASL handshape for the letter II
ASL handshape for the letter AA
ASL handshape for the letter GG
ASL handshape for the letter OO

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. T A fist with the thumb tucked under the index finger, peeking out between the index and middle fingers.
  5. I Pinky extended upward; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into a fist with the thumb resting across them.
  6. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
  7. G Index finger pointing sideways with the thumb extended parallel to it; other fingers curled into the palm.
  8. 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.