Spell a word · 11 letters

How to spell SAUDI ARABIA in sign language

Saudi Arabia fingerspelled in ASL is 11 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 UU
ASL handshape for the letter DD
ASL handshape for the letter II
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ASL handshape for the letter AA
ASL handshape for the letter RR
ASL handshape for the letter AA
ASL handshape for the letter BB
ASL handshape for the letter II
ASL handshape for the letter AA

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. U Index and middle fingers extended straight up and held tightly together; thumb holds ring and pinky down.
  4. D Index finger extended upward; middle, ring, and pinky curled to meet the thumb, forming a small circle.
  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. R Index and middle fingers extended upward and crossed (middle finger over index); thumb holds the ring and pinky down.
  8. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
  9. B Four fingers straight up and together, thumb folded flat across the palm.
  10. I Pinky extended upward; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into a fist with the thumb resting across them.
  11. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.

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.