How to spell THANK YOU in sign language
Thank You fingerspelled in ASL is 8 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
H
A
N
K·
Y
O
ULetter by letter
- T A fist with the thumb tucked under the index finger, peeking out between the index and middle fingers.
- H Index and middle fingers extended together, pointing sideways; thumb holds the ring and pinky down.
- A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
- N A fist with the thumb tucked under two fingers (index and middle), peeking out between the middle and ring fingers.
- K Index and middle fingers extended upward in a V, with the thumb placed between them resting on the middle finger knuckle; ring and pinky curled.
- Y Thumb and pinky extended outward to opposite sides; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into the palm.
- O All fingertips curved forward to touch the tip of the thumb, forming a closed O circle.
- U Index and middle fingers extended straight up and held tightly together; thumb holds 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.