See any word in ASL or BSL fingerspelling
This fingerspelling translator turns a word or name into a row of hand diagrams from the American Sign Language (ASL) one-handed alphabet or the British Sign Language (BSL) two-handed alphabet. You can step through the letters, play them as an animation at your own speed, mirror them for left-handed signers, and print a full alphabet chart.
Fingerspelling is how signers spell names, places, brand names and words that have no established sign. It is often the first thing hearing learners practise, and spelling your own name is a common first lesson. Parents of Deaf children, classmates and colleagues, teachers preparing a display, and students revising for a sign language course can all use the diagrams as a memory aid.
The drawings are created in your browser; nothing you type is sent anywhere.
How to use the Fingerspelling Translator
- Choose ASL (one hand) or BSL (two hands), and tick Left-handed if you sign with your left hand.
- Type a word or name. Each letter appears as a diagram in the strip; spaces leave a gap.
- Use the arrow buttons to move letter by letter, or press Play to run through the word. Adjust Speed and Loop to practise reading at a real pace.
- Click any letter in the strip to jump to it.
- Open Printable alphabet chart to print or download the whole alphabet — or only your word — as a PDF or PNG on A4 or US Letter.
Fingerspelling Translator features
Two alphabets
ASL’s one-handed manual alphabet, used in the USA and much of Canada, and BSL’s two-handed alphabet, used in the UK, with the related Auslan and NZSL alphabets sharing many of its shapes.
Clear line diagrams
Every letter is a simple drawing: raised, bent and folded fingers, thumb position, touch points marked with a dot and motion (J and Z) shown as a dashed arrow.
Play-through practice
Animated playback from 0.4 to 3 letters per second, with loop and step controls — reading fingerspelling at speed is the hard part.
Left-handed view
Mirror every diagram so the dominant hand matches yours.
Printable chart
A–Z or just your word, in portrait or landscape, printed or downloaded as PDF or PNG.
ASL and BSL fingerspelling compared
| Feature | ASL | BSL |
|---|---|---|
| Hands | One hand | Two hands |
| Vowels | Distinct handshapes | Point to a fingertip of the other hand: thumb A, index E, middle I, ring O, little U |
| Movement | J and Z move | J and some consonants move; many letters are touch positions |
| Used in | USA, English-speaking Canada; variants in many countries | UK; similar systems in Australia and New Zealand |
Tips for learning to fingerspell
- Hold your hand at shoulder height, palm facing the person you are signing to, and keep a steady rhythm rather than a fast one.
- Practise reading whole-word shapes, not single letters — fluent signers see the movement of the word.
- Do not bounce between letters; double letters (as in “ll”) have their own small movement.
- Use fingerspelling for names and specific words; for everyday vocabulary, learn the signs.
- For other ways to spell letters, see the Braille Translator and the NATO Phonetic Alphabet Converter.
Fingerspelling Translator FAQ
How do I fingerspell my name?
Type your name, choose ASL or BSL, and press Play to see each letter in turn. Practise slowly with the step buttons first, then speed up.
What is the difference between ASL and BSL fingerspelling?
ASL uses one hand and a distinct shape for every letter. BSL uses both hands: vowels are made by touching the fingertips of the non-dominant hand and most consonants are two-hand shapes.
Are these diagrams accurate?
They are simplified drawings meant as a memory aid. Real signing involves angle, movement and smooth transitions that a still diagram cannot show, so check with a teacher or an official resource.
Is fingerspelling the same as sign language?
No. ASL and BSL are complete languages with their own vocabulary and grammar. Fingerspelling is a tool within them for spelling words letter by letter.
Can I print the sign language alphabet?
Yes — open the printable chart, choose paper size and orientation, and print or download it as PDF or PNG.
Why do the hands in the diagrams face me?
The drawings show the hand as the person watching you would see it, which is how fingerspelling charts are usually printed. When you copy a shape, your palm faces outwards, towards the viewer.
Does anything get uploaded?
No. The diagrams are drawn in your browser.