Spell a word · 5 letters

How to spell SUSAN in sign language

Susan 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.

ASL handshape for the letter SS
ASL handshape for the letter UU
ASL handshape for the letter SS
ASL handshape for the letter AA
ASL handshape for the letter NN

Letter by letter

  1. S A closed fist with the thumb wrapped across the front of all curled fingers.
  2. U Index and middle fingers extended straight up and held tightly together; thumb holds ring and pinky down.
  3. S A closed fist with the thumb wrapped across the front of all curled fingers.
  4. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
  5. 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.