Learn the American Sign Language manual alphabet — every letter A–Z and the numbers 0–9 as clean handshape illustrations with a how-to description, plus a "spell a word" tool that lays out the fingerspelling for any word you type. In your browser, free.

The full American Sign Language manual alphabet and number signs. Everything runs in your browser — nothing is sent to the server.

The handshapes are schematic learning aids drawn to read distinctly per sign, not anatomically exact poses. Use them as a guide, then check yourself against a video or a fluent signer.

Spell a word

Type any word and read its fingerspelling, letter by letter. Numbers work too; spaces show as a gap and punctuation is skipped.

Your fingerspelled word will appear here.

Alphabet & numbers

No sign matches your search.
Try a single letter or number, or a keyword like thumb, fist or pinky.

About ASL Fingerspelling Alphabet

The ASL Fingerspelling Alphabet teaches the American Sign Language manual alphabet: every letter from A to Z and the numbers 0 through 9, each shown as a clean handshape illustration with a plain-language description of how to form it — which fingers extend, where the thumb sits, and when the hand moves, as it does for J and Z.

A built-in “spell a word” tool turns the reference into practice: type any word and it lays out the fingerspelling letter by letter, so you can rehearse names, places and technical terms — exactly the words fingerspelling exists for in real signed conversation. Numbers work too; spaces show as a gap and punctuation is skipped.

The illustrations are schematic learning aids drawn to be unmistakable at a glance rather than anatomically exact poses — use them to learn the shapes, then check yourself against video or a fluent signer. Search by letter, number or a description keyword like “fist” or “pinky”; everything runs in your browser.

How to use ASL Fingerspelling Alphabet

  1. Browse the alphabet grid, or search for a letter (R), a number (7) or a handshape keyword (fist, thumb, pinky).
  2. Filter between letters and numbers with the category buttons.
  3. Read each sign’s description to get the finger and thumb positions right.
  4. Type a word into the “Spell a word” box to see its fingerspelling laid out letter by letter, then practice it.

Frequently asked questions

For words that have no established sign — names of people and places, brands, titles and technical terms. Fluent signers mix fingerspelled words into normal signing, so the manual alphabet is one of the first things ASL learners study.

They are schematic learning aids, drawn so each sign reads distinctly rather than as an anatomically exact pose. Learn the shapes here, then verify your form against a video or a fluent signer before relying on it in conversation.

J and Z. For J you form the letter I — pinky up — and trace the curve of a J in the air; for Z you point the index finger and draw the shape of a Z. Every other letter is a static handshape.

No. The ASL manual alphabet is one-handed and specific to American Sign Language; other sign languages use different systems — British Sign Language, for example, fingerspells with two hands. Signs learned here apply to ASL.

Letters and digits are shown as their handshapes in order, spaces appear as a visible gap between groups, and punctuation is simply skipped — matching how fingerspelling is actually delivered, one letter at a time.

Yes, completely free. The full alphabet, the number signs and the spell-a-word practice tool all run in your browser with no account.

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