American Sign Language (ASL) is a visual language with its own grammar, not English on the hands. Fingerspelling is the manual alphabet: one handshape per letter of an English word, used for names, places and words that have no sign. Deaf people usually fingerspell fast, as one flowing shape, so learn to read whole words, not single letters. Hold your dominant hand at shoulder height with the palm facing the person you are talking to (G, H, P and Q turn sideways or down; J and Z trace a movement). The drawings on the front are simplified diagrams of the handshape, a starting point and not a substitute for watching a signer: check every letter against a video. Good free references with video: Lifeprint (https://www.lifeprint.com) and Handspeak (https://www.handspeak.com).
Flashcards for every letter, and Draw The Letter: trace and draw each one with your finger. Free, no account needed, no ads.
AFist, palm facing out; the thumb rests against the side of the index finger.Fingerspelled with your dominant hand, palm facing the person you are talking to
BFour fingers straight up and pressed together; the thumb folds across the palm.Fingerspelled with your dominant hand, palm facing the person you are talking to
CHand curved into the shape of a C, thumb and fingers a gap apart.Fingerspelled with your dominant hand, palm facing the person you are talking to
DIndex finger straight up; the thumb touches the tips of the other three fingers, making a small circle.Fingerspelled with your dominant hand, palm facing the person you are talking to
EFingers bent down so the tips touch the thumb, which is tucked underneath.Fingerspelled with your dominant hand, palm facing the person you are talking to
FIndex finger and thumb touch to make a circle; the other three fingers stand up and spread slightly.Fingerspelled with your dominant hand, palm facing the person you are talking to
GIndex finger and thumb point sideways, parallel, like a small pinch held open; the other fingers are closed.Fingerspelled with your dominant hand; this letter points sideways or down, unlike most letters
HIndex and middle fingers together, pointing sideways; the thumb is folded in.Fingerspelled with your dominant hand; this letter points sideways or down, unlike most letters
IFist with the little finger straight up; the thumb is folded across the other fingers.Fingerspelled with your dominant hand, palm facing the person you are talking to
JThe I handshape; the little finger draws a J in the air: down, then curving back toward you.Fingerspelled with your dominant hand; the movement is part of the letter
KIndex finger up, middle finger angled forward; the thumb touches the middle finger near its base.Fingerspelled with your dominant hand, palm facing the person you are talking to
LIndex finger straight up and thumb straight out sideways, making an L; the other fingers are folded.Fingerspelled with your dominant hand, palm facing the person you are talking to
MFist: the thumb is tucked under the first three fingers, which fold over it.Fingerspelled with your dominant hand, palm facing the person you are talking to
NFist: the thumb is tucked under the first two fingers, which fold over it.Fingerspelled with your dominant hand, palm facing the person you are talking to
OAll fingertips curve down to touch the thumb, making an O (the hole shows between them).Fingerspelled with your dominant hand, palm facing the person you are talking to
PThe K handshape turned so the fingers point down.Fingerspelled with your dominant hand; this letter points sideways or down, unlike most letters
QThe G handshape turned so the index finger and thumb point down.Fingerspelled with your dominant hand; this letter points sideways or down, unlike most letters
RIndex and middle fingers crossed, middle finger over the index; the other fingers and thumb are folded in.Fingerspelled with your dominant hand, palm facing the person you are talking to
SFist with the thumb folded across the front of the fingers.Fingerspelled with your dominant hand, palm facing the person you are talking to
TFist with the thumb tucked between the index and middle fingers.Fingerspelled with your dominant hand, palm facing the person you are talking to
UIndex and middle fingers straight up and touching; the thumb holds down the other two.Fingerspelled with your dominant hand, palm facing the person you are talking to
VIndex and middle fingers up and spread apart in a V; the thumb holds down the other two.Fingerspelled with your dominant hand, palm facing the person you are talking to
WIndex, middle and ring fingers up and spread; the thumb holds down the little finger.Fingerspelled with your dominant hand, palm facing the person you are talking to
XFist with the index finger bent into a hook.Fingerspelled with your dominant hand, palm facing the person you are talking to
YThumb and little finger stretched out, the other fingers folded; like a phone handset.Fingerspelled with your dominant hand, palm facing the person you are talking to
ZIndex finger up; it draws a Z in the air: across, diagonally down, across.Fingerspelled with your dominant hand; the movement is part of the letter
1Index finger up; the other fingers and thumb are folded.Number sign, palm facing out
2Index and middle fingers up and apart; the thumb holds down the other two.Number sign, palm facing out
3Thumb, index and middle fingers stretched out; the ring and little fingers are folded.Number sign, palm facing out
4Four fingers up and apart; the thumb folded across the palm.Number sign, palm facing out
5All five fingers spread wide, palm facing out.Number sign, palm facing out
6Thumb touches the little finger; the other three fingers stand up and spread.Number sign, palm facing out
7Thumb touches the ring finger; the other three fingers stand up and spread.Number sign, palm facing out
8Thumb touches the middle finger; the other three fingers stand up and spread.Number sign, palm facing out
9Thumb touches the index finger (like the letter F); the other three fingers stand up.Number sign, palm facing out
10Thumbs-up fist, shaken slightly side to side.Number sign, palm facing out; shake it slightly