How to spell TEACH in sign language
Teach 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.
T
E
A
C
HLetter by letter
- T A fist with the thumb tucked under the index finger, peeking out between the index and middle fingers.
- E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
- A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
- C Fingers and thumb curved into an open C shape, palm facing sideways.
- H Index and middle fingers extended together, pointing sideways; thumb holds the ring and pinky down.
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.