Finnish Sign Language Alphabet — 29 Fingerspelling Handshapes of Viittomakieli

Q: What is Finnish Sign Language?

Finnish Sign Language ( Suomalainen viittomakieli , FSL) is the primary language of Finland's Deaf community [1] . It is a complete, natural human language with its own grammar, vocabulary, and syntax — distinct from Finnish and from any other sign language. FSL is used by approximately 5,000 Deaf signers as their primary language, with a larger community of hearing users. FSL is not derived from Finnish — sign languages develop naturally within Deaf communities and follow their own grammatical principles, not those of the spoken/written language of the surrounding hearing society. FSL is related to Finnish-Swedish Sign Language, which is used by the Swedish-speaking Deaf minority in Finland, but the two are distinct languages with different histories and vocabularies.

Q: Is Finnish Sign Language officially recognised?

Yes — Finnish Sign Language is constitutionally recognised in Finland [1] . The Finnish Constitution of 2003 explicitly recognises the right of Deaf and hearing-impaired people to use sign language and receive services in their own language. This gives FSL one of the strongest legal protections of any sign language in the world. In addition to constitutional recognition, the Finnish Sign Language Act of 2015 further strengthened the language rights of FSL users. Public authorities are required to promote the use of FSL in their services. The Kotus [2] includes FSL in its remit as one of Finland's officially supported languages alongside Finnish, Swedish, Northern Sami, Inari Sami, and Skolt Sami.

Q: How many people use Finnish Sign Language?

Finnish Sign Language is used by approximately 5,000 Deaf signers [1] as their primary language. When including hearing FSL users — children of Deaf adults (CODAs), sign language interpreters, family members, and learners — the total FSL-using community is estimated at 10,000–14,000 people in Finland. The Kuurojen Liitto (Finnish Association of the Deaf) is the principal organisation representing FSL users and advocating for their linguistic rights. The organisation provides information, community services, and cultural activities for the Finnish Deaf community. Sign language interpreting services are publicly funded in Finland, ensuring that Deaf individuals can access education, healthcare, legal services, and public administration in FSL.

Q: What is fingerspelling in Finnish Sign Language?

Fingerspelling is a manual alphabet system used within FSL to spell out words letter by letter using hand configurations [3] . Each of the 29 Finnish letters has a corresponding handshape. Fingerspelling is used for proper names, technical terms, foreign words, and new vocabulary that does not yet have an established sign in FSL. Fingerspelling is a supplement to FSL, not a replacement — experienced signers use it selectively and often at speed for words with no established sign. Research at the University of Jyväskylä [3] has studied how FSL signers process and produce fingerspelling, finding that it is phonologically integrated into the sign stream in ways that parallel how phonological units are integrated in spoken language speech .

Q: What is the ISO code for Finnish Sign Language?

The ISO 639-3 code for Finnish Sign Language is fse [2] . This code is used in language databases and digital platforms to identify FSL as a distinct language. Finnish Sign Language is listed in ISO 639-3 as a natural human language, affirming its status separate from both Finnish and from other sign languages. The code fse distinguishes Finnish Sign Language from Finnish-Swedish Sign Language (fss), which is used by the Swedish-speaking Deaf minority in Finland. These are two separate languages despite both being used in Finland. The Kotus [2] maintains resources and documentation for both, recognising that Finland's bilingual heritage (Finnish and Swedish) extends into the Deaf community.

Q: How does Finnish Sign Language relate to other sign languages?

Finnish Sign Language is not related to Swedish Sign Language (SSL) or American Sign Language (ASL) despite geographic or cultural proximity [3] . Sign languages develop naturally within Deaf communities and are not derived from the spoken languages of their environments. FSL and SSL are considered separate languages with distinct vocabularies and grammatical structures. FSL does share some historical connections with French Sign Language traditions, as many European sign languages were influenced by the 18th-century French educational methods for the Deaf. Research at the University of Jyväskylä [3] has examined FSL's typological features and family relationships, placing it in a broader context of European sign language research without assuming direct derivation from any single source language .

Q: Where is Finnish Sign Language taught?

Finnish Sign Language is taught at several Finnish universities and educational institutions [3] . The University of Jyväskylä offers FSL studies and sign language interpretation programmes, training professional interpreters and researchers. FSL is also taught in schools for the Deaf and in mainstream schools with Deaf students. As an officially recognised language of Finland, FSL has rights to be used in education. Deaf children have the right to education in FSL, and interpreter training programmes ensure availability of qualified interpreters in public services. The Kuurojen Liitto [1] also provides FSL courses and learning materials for hearing people who wish to learn the language, contributing to a broader signing community in Finland.

Q: What research exists on Finnish Sign Language?

Significant academic research on Finnish Sign Language has been conducted at the University of Jyväskylä [3] , which has a long-standing sign language linguistics programme. Research covers FSL phonology, morphology, syntax, acquisition, and sociolinguistics. The university's FSL corpus is one of the most extensive research resources for any Nordic sign language. The Kotus [2] supports FSL documentation and lexicography, maintaining sign language dictionaries and resources accessible to the public. The Kuurojen Liitto [1] archives Deaf cultural materials and sign language resources. Ongoing research addresses FSL in the context of bilingual education, interpreter training, and the legal implementation of FSL rights under the Finnish Sign Language Act .

Q: What makes Finnish Sign Language unique?

Finnish Sign Language is unique as one of the few sign languages with explicit constitutional protection [1] . This level of legal recognition is rare globally and reflects Finland's commitment to linguistic rights and inclusion. FSL also has two closely related but distinct variants in Finland: FSL itself (for the Finnish-speaking Deaf community) and Finnish-Swedish Sign Language for the Swedish-speaking Deaf minority. Linguistically, FSL shows prosodic and phonological features studied extensively at the University of Jyväskylä [3] . Like all sign languages, FSL uses the simultaneous dimensions of visual space — location, movement, handshape, and facial grammar — in ways that distinguish it fundamentally from sequential spoken languages. The spatial grammar of FSL is a rich area of ongoing linguistic inquiry that has contributed to broader theories of language and cognition.

Finnish Sign Language at a Glance

Finnish Sign Language (Suomalainen viittomakieli) fingerspelling covers all 29 Finnish letters including the Nordic characters Å, Ä, Ö — each represented by a distinct handshape used by signers to spell out words, names, and terms that lack a specific sign
Finnish Sign Language is constitutionally recognised in Finland — since 2003, the Finnish Constitution has recognised FSL and the right of deaf and hearing-impaired people to use and receive services in their language ^[1]
FSL is used by approximately 5,000 Deaf signers in Finland as their primary language, with an additional community of hearing users including children of Deaf adults (CODA), interpreters, and learners. The language is supported by the Kuurojen Liitto (Finnish Association of the Deaf) ^[1]
The linguistic documentation and standardisation of FSL is supported by Kotus (Institute for the Languages of Finland) ^[2], which recognises Finnish Sign Language as one of Finland's languages alongside Finnish, Swedish, and the Sami languages
Academic research on FSL is centred at the University of Jyväskylä ^[3], which has a long tradition of Finnish Sign Language linguistics research. The university offers programmes in FSL interpretation and linguistics, training the next generation of researchers and interpreters
FSL is not related to Swedish Sign Language or American Sign Language despite geographic proximity. It developed independently and shares closest typological features with Finnish, including influence from Finnish word structure in certain aspects of sign formation. The ISO 639-3 code for Finnish Sign Language is fse

Finnish Sign Language Vowel Handshapes

Finnish Sign Language fingerspelling includes 9 vowel handshapes covering A, E, I, O, U (the basic five), Y (the Finnish front rounded vowel), and the Nordic letters Å, Ä, Ö. Each handshape is a distinct configuration of the fingers and hand that uniquely identifies the corresponding written letter.

In FSL, fingerspelling vowels are used most frequently for proper nouns, names, and technical vocabulary without established signs. Experienced signers often use abbreviated fingerspelling, showing only the first letter or a few key letters of a word. The handshapes for the basic vowels A, E, I, O, U follow conventions broadly shared with other European sign language fingerspelling systems.

[AH]

[EH]

[EE]

[OH]

[OO]

[EW]

[AW]

[AE]

[EU]

[AH]

closed fist with thumb beside index finger

[EH]

fingers bent at middle joint, thumb tucked across palm

[EE]

little finger extended upright, other fingers closed

[OH]

thumb and index finger form a circle, other fingers curved

[OO]

index and middle fingers extended together and upward

[EW]

thumb and little finger extended, other fingers closed; Finnish vowel sound ü

[AW]

A-handshape with small circular movement; used in Swedish loanwords

[AE]

open hand fingers spread, palm forward; front open vowel as in "bad"

[EU]

O-shape with fingers spread; rounded front mid vowel as in German "schön"

Finnish Sign Language Consonant Handshapes

The 20 consonant handshapes of Finnish Sign Language fingerspelling cover the full range of consonants in the Finnish alphabet, including the foreign letters Q, W, X used mainly in borrowed proper names. Many handshapes visually resemble the written form of the letter — for example, L, C, and V are often recognisable from their visual similarity to the print letterform.

Consonant handshapes in FSL include iconic forms (shapes that visually echo the printed letter) and more arbitrary forms. The handshape for R (crossed index and middle fingers) differs across sign languages — FSL's R reflects Scandinavian manual alphabet traditions rather than British or American conventions, as Finnish Sign Language developed independently from those systems.

[B]

[S]

[D]

[F]

[G]

[H]

[Y]

[K]

[L]

[M]

[N]

[P]

[K]

[R]

[S]

[T]

[V]

[KS]

[TS]

[B]

four fingers extended flat together, thumb tucked; as in "boy"

[S]

curved C-shape, thumb and fingers curved toward each other

[D]

index finger extended upward, other fingers and thumb form circle

[F]

index finger and thumb touch at tips forming a circle, other fingers extended

[G]

index finger and thumb extended parallel horizontally

[H]

index and middle fingers extended together horizontally

[Y]

little finger extended, traces J in the air; as in "yes"

[K]

index and middle fingers extended in V, thumb touches middle finger

[L]

index finger and thumb extended at right angle forming L-shape

[M]

three fingers (index, middle, ring) extended flat over thumb

[N]

two fingers (index, middle) extended flat over thumb

[P]

K-handshape pointing downward

[K]

G-handshape pointing downward; rare in Finnish, used in foreign words

[R]

index and middle fingers crossed; as in a trilled Finnish R

[S]

fist with thumb over closed fingers

[T]

index finger extended, thumb between index and middle finger

[V]

index and middle fingers extended in V-shape, palm forward

[V]

three fingers (index, middle, ring) extended in W-shape; used in foreign words

[KS]

index finger hooked or bent; used in foreign words

[TS]

index finger traces Z in the air; used in foreign words

Finnish Sign Language Nordic Special Letters

The three Nordic letters Å, Ä, Ö have dedicated handshapes in Finnish Sign Language fingerspelling. These letters are common in Finnish text (Ä and Ö especially), so FSL signers use these handshapes regularly when spelling Finnish words, names, and technical terms.

Å is relatively rare in Finnish, appearing mainly in Swedish-origin proper names (Finland has a significant Swedish-speaking minority). Ä and Ö, however, are very common Finnish vowels — words like päivä (day), äiti (mother), and löytää (to find) illustrate how frequently these vowels appear in ordinary Finnish text. The Kuurojen Liitto ^[1] promotes standardisation of FSL handshapes across Finland.

[AW]

[AE]

[EU]

Finnish Sign Language Digits

Finnish Sign Language uses Arabic numerals (0–9) in written contexts. The Finnish number words: nolla (0), yksi (1), kaksi (2), kolme (3), neljä (4), viisi (5), kuusi (6), seitsemän (7), kahdeksan (8), yhdeksän (9).

FSL has its own number signs distinct from fingerspelling the digits. The number signs in FSL typically use one hand and show visual patterns for 1–10, with compound handshapes for larger numbers. When precision is required (such as in addresses or telephone numbers), signers fingerspell or use individual digit handshapes. The Kotus ^[2] resources on FSL include documentation of number signs and their variation across Finnish signing communities.

[nolla]

[yksi]

[kaksi]

[kolme]

[neljä]

[viisi]

[kuusi]

[seitsemän]

[kahdeksan]

[yhdeksän]

[nolla]

Finnish: nolla

[yksi]

Finnish: yksi

[kaksi]

Finnish: kaksi

[kolme]

Finnish: kolme

[neljä]

Finnish: neljä

[viisi]

Finnish: viisi

[kuusi]

Finnish: kuusi

[seitsemän]

Finnish: seitsemän

[kahdeksan]

Finnish: kahdeksan

[yhdeksän]

Finnish: yhdeksän

Complete Finnish Sign Language Fingerspelling Alphabet

A complete view of all 29 Finnish Sign Language fingerspelling handshapes in alphabetical order. The full Finnish alphabet from A to Ö, each letter having a distinct manual representation for use in fingerspelling within FSL communication.

The University of Jyväskylä ^[3] has documented FSL linguistics comprehensively, including phonological analysis of handshapes using parameters such as location, movement, handshape configuration, and orientation — the four major parameters that linguists use to analyse sign language phonology. Research at Jyväskylä has shown that FSL has a rich internal phonological structure comparable in complexity to any spoken language's sound system.

[AH]

[B]

[S]

[D]

[EH]

[F]

[G]

[H]

[EE]

[Y]

[K]

[L]

[M]

[N]

[OH]

[P]

[K]

[R]

[S]

[T]

[OO]

[V]

[KS]

[EW]

[TS]

[AW]

[AE]

[EU]

Expand All Collapse All

What is Finnish Sign Language?

Is Finnish Sign Language officially recognised?

How many people use Finnish Sign Language?

What is fingerspelling in Finnish Sign Language?

What is the ISO code for Finnish Sign Language?

How does Finnish Sign Language relate to other sign languages?

Where is Finnish Sign Language taught?

What research exists on Finnish Sign Language?

What makes Finnish Sign Language unique?

References:

[1] Kuurojen Liitto ry — Finnish Association of the Deaf. "Finnish Sign Language (Viittomakieli)" — the primary advocacy and documentation organisation for Finnish Sign Language in Finland, supporting the rights of Deaf signers and promoting the recognition, teaching and use of Finnish Sign Language. Retrieved from Kuurojen Liitto: Finnish Association of the Deaf
[2] Kotimaisten kielten keskus (Kotus) — Institute for the Languages of Finland. "Finnish Sign Language Resources (Viittomakielet)" — the national languages institute of Finland providing research, standardisation resources and linguistic documentation for Finnish Sign Language as one of Finland's recognised languages. Retrieved from Kotus: Finnish Sign Language - https://kotus.fi/kielit/viittomakielet (URL no longer accessible)
[3] University of Jyväskylä, Sign Language Research. "Finnish Sign Language Studies (Viittomakielten tutkimus)" — academic research centre for Finnish Sign Language linguistics at the University of Jyväskylä, one of Finland's leading institutions for sign language research, including the phonology, morphology and lexicography of Finnish Sign Language. Retrieved from University of Jyväskylä

Sambhu Raj Singh · LinkedIn · GitHub · Npm

Updated: 12 July 2026

The Finnish Sign Language Alphabet

Finnish Sign Language at a Glance

Finnish Sign Language Vowel Handshapes

Finnish Sign Language Consonant Handshapes

Finnish Sign Language Nordic Special Letters

Finnish Sign Language Digits

Complete Finnish Sign Language Fingerspelling Alphabet

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Finnish Sign Language?

Is Finnish Sign Language officially recognised?

How many people use Finnish Sign Language?

What is fingerspelling in Finnish Sign Language?

What is the ISO code for Finnish Sign Language?

How does Finnish Sign Language relate to other sign languages?

Where is Finnish Sign Language taught?

What research exists on Finnish Sign Language?

What makes Finnish Sign Language unique?

References: