Fingerspelling

Fingerspelling is a way of using the hands to form letters to spell words. People who communicate using sign language fingerspell some words they don't know the sign for, like names or places. It looks like you're making the shapes of letters with your fingers. For example, to spell the word “cat”, you would make the shape of the letter “C” with your left thumb and index finger, then make the shape of the letter “A” with your left middle finger, and finally make the shape of the letter “T” with your right index and middle fingers.