To sign “sign” in American Sign Language (ASL), you point both index fingers toward each other and move them in alternating circular motions, rotating away from your body. Your hands take turns cycling forward, as if tracing two interlocking wheels in the air in front of your chest. This is one of the first signs many learners pick up because it’s used constantly in conversation, from asking “Do you know sign language?” to telling someone “I’m learning to sign.”
The Sign, Step by Step
Start with both hands in front of your upper chest, each with the index finger extended and pointing toward the opposite hand. Your other fingers should be curled into loose fists, and your palms face slightly inward. From this position, move both hands in alternating forward circles. As your right hand arcs up and away from you, your left hand arcs down and toward you, then they switch. The motion is smooth and continuous, like pedaling a bicycle with your hands.
Keep the circles moderate in size, roughly six to eight inches in diameter. Your hands stay in the space directly in front of your chest, not off to one side or too far from your body. The movement should feel relaxed and natural, not stiff or exaggerated.
Noun Versus Verb: “Sign” Versus “Sign Language”
ASL often distinguishes between a noun and its related verb by changing the movement. The verb form of a sign typically uses a single, slightly longer movement, while the noun form uses a smaller, repeated movement. When you sign “sign language” as a noun (the language itself), the circular motion is quicker and more compact, with a short repeated bounce. When you use it as a verb, meaning “to sign” or “to communicate in sign language,” the circles are broader and more flowing.
The handshape, palm orientation, and location stay the same in both cases. Only the quality of the movement changes. This noun-verb distinction applies across many ASL signs, so learning to feel the difference early will help you with dozens of other words later.
Five Components That Make a Sign Correct
Every ASL sign is built from five elements: handshape, palm orientation, location, movement, and facial expression. Getting “sign” right means nailing all five at once.
- Handshape: Extended index fingers, remaining fingers curled.
- Palm orientation: Palms angled slightly inward, facing each other.
- Location: In front of your upper chest, within your natural signing space.
- Movement: Alternating forward circles.
- Facial expression: Neutral for a statement, but this changes depending on the sentence (more on that below).
Changing any one of these can alter the meaning entirely. Flip your palms to face outward, for instance, and you’re no longer producing the same sign. Move your hands to a different location on your body and you could accidentally sign a completely different word.
Common Mistakes Beginners Make
The most frequent error is getting the palm orientation wrong, such as facing your palms outward instead of toward each other. This is an easy mistake to make when you’re focused on getting the circular motion right, but it changes the sign’s meaning and can confuse the person watching you.
Speed is the other big pitfall. Moving your hands too fast makes the sign look frantic and hard to read. Moving too slowly can make it look like a different sign or suggest hesitation. Aim for a pace that matches comfortable, conversational speech. Think of it like the difference between mumbling and speaking clearly: the sign should be distinct and unhurried.
Another common issue is making the circles too large or letting your hands drift away from your chest. Your signing space is roughly the area between your waist and the top of your head, and between your shoulders. Keeping the sign compact within that frame makes it easier for others to read.
Facial Expressions Change the Grammar
ASL uses facial expressions and head positions as grammar, not just emotion. If you sign “you sign?” as a yes-or-no question, you raise your eyebrows. If you sign a “wh” question like “where did you learn to sign?”, you lower your eyebrows and may tilt your head slightly forward. These aren’t optional flourishes. They’re the equivalent of question marks and sentence structure in English.
Head position carries meaning too. Tilting your head down can signal a definite or specific reference, while tilting up can suggest something more general or indefinite. When you’re just starting out, focusing on eyebrow position for questions is the most important habit to build. Many beginners sign with a completely neutral face, which in ASL reads like speaking in a flat monotone with no punctuation.
When to Fingerspell Instead
You might wonder whether to spell out S-I-G-N with the manual alphabet instead of using the conceptual sign. In general, fingerspelling is reserved for proper nouns (names of people, places, and brands), words borrowed from English that don’t have an established ASL sign, and technical terms. Since “sign” has a widely used conceptual sign, fingerspelling it would be unusual and slow down the conversation. Use the sign.
That said, fingerspelling is worth learning alongside your first signs. About 35% of everyday ASL involves some fingerspelling, and you’ll encounter it constantly when someone introduces themselves or mentions a specific place. Practicing the manual alphabet also builds the finger dexterity that makes your other signs cleaner and more precise.
Putting It Into a Sentence
ASL sentence structure differs from English. A common word order is topic-comment, where you establish what you’re talking about first, then say something about it. “I’m learning sign language” might be signed as “SIGN LANGUAGE, I LEARN” with a slight head nod after “sign language” to mark it as the topic. “Do you sign?” could be just “YOU SIGN?” with raised eyebrows.
Approximately 11 million people in the United States use ASL as their primary form of communication. That means the sign you just learned opens a door to a large and active community. Practice the motion until it feels natural, pay attention to your palm orientation, and don’t forget your eyebrows. Those three habits alone will put you ahead of most beginners.