How to spell STUDY in sign language
Study 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.
- T A fist with the thumb tucked under the index finger, peeking out between the index and middle fingers.
- U Index and middle fingers extended straight up and held tightly together; thumb holds ring and pinky down.
- D Index finger extended upward; middle, ring, and pinky curled to meet the thumb, forming a small circle.
- Y Thumb and pinky extended outward to opposite sides; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into the palm.
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.