How to spell VIETNAM in sign language
Vietnam fingerspelled in ASL is 7 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.
V
I
E
T
N
A
MLetter by letter
- V Index and middle fingers extended straight up and spread into a V; thumb holds ring and pinky down.
- I Pinky extended upward; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into a fist with the thumb resting across them.
- E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
- T A fist with the thumb tucked under the index finger, peeking out between the index and middle fingers.
- N A fist with the thumb tucked under two fingers (index and middle), peeking out between the middle and ring fingers.
- A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
- M A fist with the thumb tucked under three fingers (index, middle, ring), peeking out between the ring and pinky 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.