Spell a word · 5 letters

How to spell TEXAS in sign language

Texas 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 TT
ASL handshape for the letter EE
ASL handshape for the letter XX
ASL handshape for the letter AA
ASL handshape for the letter SS

Letter by letter

  1. T A fist with the thumb tucked under the index finger, peeking out between the index and middle fingers.
  2. E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
  3. X Index finger extended and bent into a hook at the knuckle; other fingers curled into a fist with the thumb alongside.
  4. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
  5. S A closed fist with the thumb wrapped across the front of all curled 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.