Spell a word · 5 letters

How to spell TYLER in sign language

Tyler 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 YY
ASL handshape for the letter LL
ASL handshape for the letter EE
ASL handshape for the letter RR

Letter by letter

  1. T A fist with the thumb tucked under the index finger, peeking out between the index and middle fingers.
  2. Y Thumb and pinky extended outward to opposite sides; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into the palm.
  3. L Index finger pointing straight up and thumb extended outward to form an L; other three fingers curled into the palm.
  4. E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
  5. R Index and middle fingers extended upward and crossed (middle finger over index); 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.