Spell a word · 9 letters

How to spell WEDNESDAY in sign language

Wednesday fingerspelled in ASL is 9 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 WW
ASL handshape for the letter EE
ASL handshape for the letter DD
ASL handshape for the letter NN
ASL handshape for the letter EE
ASL handshape for the letter SS
ASL handshape for the letter DD
ASL handshape for the letter AA
ASL handshape for the letter YY

Letter by letter

  1. W Index, middle, and ring fingers extended upward and spread; thumb holds the pinky finger down.
  2. E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
  3. D Index finger extended upward; middle, ring, and pinky curled to meet the thumb, forming a small circle.
  4. N A fist with the thumb tucked under two fingers (index and middle), peeking out between the middle and ring fingers.
  5. E All four fingers curled tightly down into the palm with the thumb tucked horizontally underneath the fingertips.
  6. S A closed fist with the thumb wrapped across the front of all curled fingers.
  7. D Index finger extended upward; middle, ring, and pinky curled to meet the thumb, forming a small circle.
  8. A A closed fist with the thumb resting upright against the side of the index finger.
  9. Y Thumb and pinky extended outward to opposite sides; index, middle, and ring fingers curled into the palm.

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.