Spell a word · 6 letters

How to spell TAIPEI in sign language

Taipei fingerspelled in ASL is 6 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 TT
ASL handshape for the letter AA
ASL handshape for the letter II
ASL handshape for the letter PP
ASL handshape for the letter EE
ASL handshape for the letter II

Letter by letter

  1. T A fist with the thumb tucked under the index finger, peeking out between the index and middle fingers.
  2. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
  3. I Pinky extended upward; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into a fist with the thumb resting across them.
  4. P Same handshape as K, but angled downward with the index and middle fingers pointing toward the ground.
  5. E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
  6. I Pinky extended upward; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into a fist with the thumb resting across them.

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.