How to spell SHAWN in sign language

Shawn 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.

Letter by letter

S A closed fist with the thumb wrapped across the front of all curled fingers.
H Index and middle fingers extended together, pointing sideways; thumb holds the ring and pinky down.
A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
W Index, middle, and ring fingers extended upward and spread; thumb holds the pinky finger down.
N A fist with the thumb tucked under two fingers (index and middle), peeking out between the middle and ring fingers.

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.

Sign it at your camera and check it Spell a different word

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