The American manual alphabet is twenty-six handshapes, one per letter, made on a single hand. You use it to spell names, places, brands, and any word you do not have a sign for yet. It is the first thing most learners study and the thing most learners never quite finish, because they stop at "I know the letters" instead of "I can spell and read at speed."
This guide gets you to the second one. Every letter is on video below. Watch each clip, make the shape, and check your hand against the signer's.
Before you start: hand position
Hold your dominant hand up at about shoulder height, a little in front of you, palm facing the person you are talking to. Keep your elbow relaxed at your side. Your hand stays in one place; only the fingers change. Beginners bounce the whole hand with every letter, which makes words hard to read. Think of your wrist as parked.
Most letters face outward. The exceptions are G and H, which turn sideways, and P and Q, which point down. J and Z are the only two letters with movement: J draws a hook, Z draws a Z in the air.
A to G
A is a fist with the thumb along the side. B is a flat hand with the thumb tucked across the palm. C is exactly the shape of the letter. D points the index finger up with the other fingers touching the thumb. E curls all four fingers down over the thumb. F touches index finger to thumb with the other three fingers up. G points the index finger and thumb sideways, like a pinch.
The pairs that confuse beginners here are A and S (S wraps the thumb across the front of the fist), and D and F (which finger is up).
H to N
H is G with two fingers. I raises the pinky. J is I with a hook drawn downward. K puts the index and middle finger up with the thumb between them. L is an L shape with thumb and index. M tucks three fingers over the thumb; N tucks two.
M and N are the most misread letters in the whole alphabet. The difference is how many fingers cover the thumb: three for M, two for N. Say it to yourself while you make them: M has three humps, N has two.
O to T
O curves all fingers to the thumb. P is K pointed down. Q is G pointed down. R crosses the middle finger over the index. S is a fist with the thumb across the front. T tucks the thumb between index and middle finger.
E, O, and S can blur together at speed. Keep E tight and closed, O round, S a firm fist.
U to Z
U is two fingers up together. V spreads them. W is three fingers. X hooks the index finger. Y spreads thumb and pinky. Z draws a Z with the index finger.
Spelling your name
Your name is the first thing you will spell, and the first thing a Deaf person will ask for. Practice it until it is one smooth motion. Spell it at a steady rhythm, with no pause between letters and a small pause between first and last name. Double letters, like the two Ls in "Molly," are shown with a small slide to the side on the second letter.
Once you can spell your name without looking at your hand, you are ready to use the alphabet in conversation. In the Deaf community, people often receive a name sign from Deaf friends after they are known; until then, your fingerspelled name is your name. See Name Sign and What's Your Name Sign? for how to talk about that.
Reading fingerspelling
Reading is harder than spelling, and it is the skill that matters most. Three habits help:
- Watch the whole hand and the mouth, not the fingers. You are reading shapes and a word on the lips, not decoding letters one by one.
- Do not say letters back in your head. Wait for the word to land.
- Ask for a repeat without apology. Sign Again and Sign Slow are normal and polite.
The app drills fingerspelled words at increasing speed so your eyes learn to read shapes. Do five minutes a day and reading stops feeling like a test.
What to learn next
Once the alphabet is comfortable, go to ASL Greetings so you can introduce yourself, then ASL Numbers so you can give your age and the time. For everything about fingerspelling faster, read our fingerspelling tips.