Alphabet in Sign Language: Free PDF for Beginners

Learning the alphabet in sign language is a fun and useful skill. While finger spelling out words can take longer than if you know the ASL common words, it enables you to communicate with someone. The sign language alphabet is a beginner skill, and where most people start when learning sign language.

It should be noted that while learning the sign language alphabet is a beginner skill, the child or student will have to know how to spell to use the ASL alphabet for fingerspelling.

After all, can’t spell words using fingerspelling without knowing how to spell, right? But, I also have other downloads on this site for sign language, including how to say hello and thank you in sign language.

Sign Language Alphabet

Fingerspelling in ASL to communicate also requires some motor planning, which some students may lack.

Mentally, you are already planning out the next letter while signing the current one, if that makes sense. Doing that requires motor planning and executive functions like working memory.

What is ASL Fingerspelling?

ASL fingerspelling is just what it says–you are communicating to the person by spelling out the words. It can be a slow and laborious way to communicate. But, sometimes, it is necessary for beginners in ASL.

For example, instead of using the sign for “yes,” I would answer you using the 3 separate letter signs for Y-E-S.

I have another post with common ASL words if you wish to learn those separately.

It should be noted that trying to communicate with ASL and fingerspelling requires sufficient working memory skills.

The signer and the receiver will have to remember the letters already used and save the information until the word is complete.

Sign Language Alphabet

Still, learning to fingerspell ASL is better than having no communication. ASL is the 4th most common language in the USA. Just like learning any other language, you have to practice it. I learned Italian before I lived in Italy and used it for the 6 months I was there.

But guess what? I haven’t used or practiced it since then, so I lost those skills. Practicing ASL skills is essential if you want to learn sign language.

Sign language is a visual language used by the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities as a means of communication. It is a rich and complex language that is used all over the world, with many different sign languages in use, including American Sign Language (ASL), British Sign Language (BSL), and International Sign Language (ISL).

Alphabet in Sign Language PDF

Once you have learned the alphabet in ASL and the ASL numbers, you may want to move on to ASL color signs or other common ASL words.

Thank you, and happy signing!