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Libras Alphabet – Interactive Manual Alphabet

Explore the Libras manual alphabet letter by letter, see how each hand configuration is described, and practice fingerspelling by building words with your name, friends' names, or everyday terms. The tool was designed for study, inclusion, and support for accessibility professionals.

Inclusion and accessibility Manual alphabet in Libras Visual and textual learning
Only Latin alphabet letters are considered. Special characters are ignored.
Letter in Libras
A
Equivalent sound to letter A.
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Dominant hand closed in a fist, with the thumb resting on the side of the index finger, palm facing forward. This configuration represents the letter A in the manual alphabet.
Tip: mentally compare it with the printed letter shape and think of the static hand movement.
No word entered yet.
You can navigate through letters with keyboard arrows or by typing A–Z.

What is the Libras alphabet and what is it for?

The Libras alphabet, also called manual alphabet or fingerspelling, is the set of hand configurations representing the letters of the Portuguese alphabet in the Brazilian Sign Language (Libras). Instead of writing with pen and paper, the signer spells a word letter by letter using their dominant hand.

Fingerspelling is very useful for spelling proper names, acronyms, technical terms, brands, or words that do not yet have a specific sign disseminated in the deaf community. It also frequently appears in bilingual classrooms, medical appointments, customer service, and situations where ensuring the correct spelling of a term is important.

Why learn the Libras alphabet

Learning the manual alphabet is, for many hearing people, their first contact with Libras. With just a few minutes of daily practice, it is possible to spell simple names and approach deaf people with more respect and autonomy. Knowing fingerspelling does not replace learning the full language, but demonstrates genuine interest in accessibility and inclusion.

For service professionals, teachers, UX teams, and product developers, knowing the Libras alphabet helps create more welcoming experiences for deaf users. In corporate environments, for example, it can be used to sign names in meetings, badges, new employee onboarding, and internal visual communication.

How to use this Libras Alphabet tool

The tool was designed to be an interactive guide. You can explore each letter individually or type a word to see the complete corresponding sequence in the manual alphabet:

  • Type a name or term in the text field to visualize the sequence of letters and practice fingerspelling in Libras.
  • Use the letter grid to navigate through the alphabet. Clicking on a letter updates the hand configuration description in detail.
  • Try practicing actively: read the description, form the corresponding hand shape, and only then advance to the next letter.

Best practices when teaching Libras and the manual alphabet

When teaching Libras to children, family members, or coworkers, it is important to reinforce that sign language is not just a manual alphabet. Like spoken languages, Libras has its own grammar, visual-spatial structure, facial expressions that carry meaning, and a culture associated with the deaf community.

The manual alphabet should be used as support, not as the only form of communication. Whenever possible, combine fingerspelling with specific Libras signs, use facial expressions, and direct eye contact. This combination makes communication more natural and respectful of deaf culture.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Libras alphabet

The manual alphabet in Libras represents the letters used in Portuguese writing, including Ç. However, Libras is not "signed Portuguese": it is a visual-spatial language with its own structure. Fingerspelling is just a resource within the language.

In specific situations, you can get by with just the manual alphabet, for example, to spell a name or a specific word. In everyday life, however, this makes communication slow and tiring. The ideal is to combine fingerspelling with Libras signs and, whenever possible, study the language more completely.

Yes. Many schools use the Libras alphabet as a playful activity, bringing hearing children closer to the reality of deaf classmates. Posters, memory games, adapted songs, and tools like this help create a more inclusive environment.