# French Sign Language (LSF)

> The ancestor of ASL and much of the signing world.

- Region: France
- Alphabet: one-handed alphabet
- Signs taught: 14
- Lessons: 15
- Graded movement: none — handshape only
- Course page: https://signlingo.khe.money/dictionary/lsf

## What this course covers

A starter course: the nine letters that carried unchanged into ASL, plus counting to five.

## About the language

Laurent Clerc carried LSF to the United States in 1817. Most of the handshapes you learn here you already half-know from ASL.

## Signs

### A

A closed fist with your thumb straight up the side.

### B

Four fingers straight and together, thumb folded flat across the palm.

### C

Fingers and thumb curved into a C, palm turned to the side.

### D

Index finger up; the other fingers curl down to meet the thumb.

### I

Pinky up, the rest of the hand closed.

### L

Index up, thumb straight out to the side at a right angle.

### O

All fingers curve down to meet the thumb in a round O.

### V

Index and middle fingers up and spread apart.

### Y

Thumb and pinky stretched out, the three middle fingers closed.

### 1

Index finger straight up.

### 2

Index and middle fingers up.

### 3

Index, middle and ring fingers up.

### 4

All four fingers up, thumb tucked across the palm.

### 5

Open hand, all five fingers spread.

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