How to spell UNCLE in sign language
Uncle 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.
U
N
C
L
ELetter by letter
- U Index and middle fingers extended straight up and held tightly together; thumb holds ring and pinky down.
- N A fist with the thumb tucked under two fingers (index and middle), peeking out between the middle and ring fingers.
- C Fingers and thumb curved into an open C shape, palm facing sideways.
- L Index finger pointing straight up and thumb extended outward to form an L; other three fingers curled into the palm.
- E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
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.