Fingerspelling is a method of spelling words using hand movements. Fingerspelling is used in sign language to spell out names of people and places for which there is not a sign. Fingerspelling can also be used to spell words for signs that the signer does not know the sign for, or to clarify a sign that is not known by the person reading the signer. Fingerspelling signs are often also incorporated into other signs.

Why not use fingerspelling instead of Sign Language?
People often ask why not just use fingerspelling instead of sign language, that way you would only have to learn 26 signs, and more people would be able to understand. That is a good point, but it would be impractical just to use fingerspelling. Conversations would take hours, and it would be very hard to add feeling and expression to a conversation that was just using fingerspelling. Sign language is a hugely more efficient form of communication when compared with just using fingerspelling.

Where can I learn to fingerspell?
You can learn here on this website - use the buttons above to download or print the fingerspelling alphabet - you can also use our other fingerspelling resources to very quickly learnfinger spelling.