How to Sign "U" in American Sign Language (ASL)

To make the "U" in ASL, point your first two fingers up with your palm facing out and other fingers down. This handshape shows up in many different signs throughout American Sign Language, including common words that you might use every day like "university," "understand," and "ugly." Make this sign by keeping your index and middle fingers close together. When you're spelling words letter by letter, you need to form this shape very clearly so others can understand what you're trying to say. Don't mix up the "U" with the "V" sign - remember that for "U," your two fingers stay together, but for "V," they spread apart.