The sign for “with” in ASL is made by forming the letter “A” with both hands (fists with thumbs resting on the side) and bringing them together, palms facing each other. It’s one of the more straightforward signs to learn, but how and when you actually use it in conversation is where things get interesting.
How to Form the Sign
Start with both hands in the “A” handshape: a closed fist with your thumb resting against the side of your index finger. Hold them slightly apart with your palms facing each other, then bring them together so the knuckles touch or nearly touch. The motion is simple and short. There’s no repeated movement for the basic sign.
Keep the sign in front of your chest, in the neutral signing space where most conversational signs live. You don’t need to exaggerate the motion or add force when bringing your hands together.
Related Signs That Build on “With”
The basic “with” handshape is actually the foundation for a whole family of related signs. If you hold both “A” hands together and move them in a sweeping horizontal circle (as if stirring a pot), the meaning shifts to “together” in the sense of solidarity or working as a group. The hands stay in contact the whole time during the circular motion.
Many spatial relationship signs are variations of this same starting position. Signs for “in front of,” “behind,” “follow,” “catch up,” “chase,” “fall behind,” “accompany,” “go with,” “go steady,” “race,” “compete,” and “subordinate” all grow out of the “with” sign. The difference in each case comes from how the two hands move relative to each other after the initial position. For “follow,” one hand trails the other. For “race” or “compete,” both hands alternate forward. Learning the base sign well gives you a head start on this entire cluster of vocabulary.
When ASL Drops “With” Entirely
Here’s something that surprises most English speakers learning ASL: you often don’t sign “with” at all. ASL grammar is built around concepts, not English word order, and many situations where English requires the word “with” are handled differently in ASL.
When you’re describing doing something using a tool or instrument, ASL typically uses classifier signs that show the action directly. Instead of signing “I cut the paper with scissors,” you’d use a classifier handshape that mimics holding and using scissors. The “with” is built into the action itself. Similarly, if you want to say “I went to the store with my friend,” you might sign your friend’s name or identifier, then sign “together” or “go with” rather than using the standalone “with” sign between other words.
ASL also drops linking words that English depends on. English says “He is tired,” but ASL drops the “is” entirely and signs the equivalent of “HE TIRED.” The same principle applies to many uses of “with.” If the relationship between two things is already clear from context or spatial placement, the sign becomes unnecessary.
Avoid Signing English Word for Word
The biggest mistake beginners make with a sign like “with” is inserting it into every sentence where English would use the word. This creates choppy, unnatural signing that’s harder for Deaf signers to follow, not easier. ASL has its own grammar, and trying to map English onto it is like translating French by replacing each word one at a time. The result is technically made of French words but isn’t really French.
The fix is to think in concepts rather than words. Ask yourself what you’re actually trying to communicate. If you mean accompaniment (“I’m going with her”), use the “go with” or “accompany” variation. If you mean using a tool, show the tool in action with a classifier. If you mean togetherness or solidarity, use the circular “together” version. Each meaning has its own specific expression, and reaching for the right one makes your signing clearer and more natural.
Tips for Practice
When practicing the basic sign, pay attention to a few things. First, make sure your “A” handshapes are clean. The thumb should rest on the side of the fist, not tucked inside or sticking up. Second, keep your palms oriented toward each other, not facing down or up. Third, bring the hands together with a natural, moderate motion. Signing too small makes it hard to read, and signing too large looks exaggerated.
Don’t forget your facial expression. In ASL, your face carries grammatical information. A statement like “I went with him” has a neutral expression, while “Did you go with him?” requires raised eyebrows for a yes/no question. If your hands are signing but your face is blank, the message is incomplete. This applies to every sign, but beginners often forget it when focused on getting their hands right.
As you get more comfortable, start learning the related signs that branch off from “with.” Practicing them as a group helps reinforce how ASL uses spatial relationships between two hands to express different meanings. The “with” sign is simple on its own, but it opens the door to a rich set of vocabulary built on the same foundation.