How to Sign “Letter R” in ASL

To sign the letter R in ASL, cross your middle finger over your index finger, with both held up, and fold your other fingers in with the thumb. Hold your dominant hand up beside your shoulder, at about chin height, with the palm facing forward. Hold it still: R does not move.

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How to sign it

  1. Handshape: Cross your middle finger over your index finger, with both held up, and fold your other fingers in with the thumb.

  2. Location: Beside your shoulder, at about chin height, on the side of your dominant hand.

  3. Palm orientation: Palm facing forward.

  4. Movement: none. Hold the handshape still for a moment.

Use it in a sentence

#RED (fingerspelled R-E-D)

Spell red with your hand: R, E, D.

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Signed by a Deaf, fluent ASL signer.

Description checked against AISA's own video (the reference); Lifeprint (ASL University) fingerspelling chart, lifeprint.com/asl101/fingerspelling/abc.htm.

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Animated GIF: a Deaf signer signs R in ASL, the middle finger crossed over the index finger.

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