fingerspell

/ˈfɪŋ.ɡə.spel/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfɪŋ.ɡɚ.spel/ (ame, ipa)

fingerspell — verb

  • fingerspellpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • fingerspells3rd person singular
  • fingerspelling-ing form
  • fingerspelledpast simple

1. to show a word by making the handshape for each written letter in order, instead

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to show a word by making the handshape for each written letter in order, instead of using one complete sign.

例句

Noa fingerspelled her address when the interpreter missed the street name.

fingerspell + address/name

Takeshi fingerspelled the medicine name because his grandmother did not know a sign for it.

fingerspell + technical word with no fixed sign

同義詞
  • spell out

    more general; can refer to saying or writing the letters, not specifically using handshapes

  • sign

    broader; often means using full sign language rather than naming each letter separately

文法句型

fingerspell + name/word

fingerspell + something + slowly/clearly

用法筆記

Object is usually a name, place, loanword, or technical term that does not have a well-known sign. Distinguish from 'sign': fingerspell builds the word letter by letter instead of choosing one full sign.

常見錯誤

❌He signed his surname letter by letter.
✅He fingerspelled his surname.
💡'sign' is broader; 'fingerspell' is the specific verb for spelling a word with handshapes.