Spell a word · 6 letters

How to spell VIOLET in sign language

Violet fingerspelled in ASL is 6 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 VV
ASL handshape for the letter II
ASL handshape for the letter OO
ASL handshape for the letter LL
ASL handshape for the letter EE
ASL handshape for the letter TT

Letter by letter

  1. V Index and middle fingers extended straight up and spread into a V; thumb holds ring and pinky down.
  2. I Pinky extended upward; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into a fist with the thumb resting across them.
  3. O All fingertips curved forward to touch the tip of the thumb, forming a closed O circle.
  4. L Index finger pointing straight up and thumb extended outward to form an L; other three fingers curled into the palm.
  5. E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
  6. T A fist with the thumb tucked under the index finger, peeking out between the index and middle 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.