How to Sign “After” in ASL

The short answer

In American Sign Language (ASL), the commonly taught sign for AFTER uses two flat hands. Your non-dominant hand is a fixed reference point. Your dominant hand starts against the back of it and moves forward, away from your body. The forward motion shows that something comes later than that reference point.

Note: no source material was supplied for this guide. The description below is the form widely shown in ASL teaching materials. Signs vary by region and community, so confirm it with a Deaf signer, an ASL instructor or a reputable ASL video dictionary.

Step by step

• 1. Make both hands flat, with fingers together and thumbs alongside. ASL teachers call this a B handshape.
• 2. Hold your non-dominant hand in front of your chest. The palm faces you and the fingers point sideways. This hand stays still.
• 3. Place the palm of your dominant hand against the back of your non-dominant hand. The dominant palm also faces you.
• 4. Move your dominant hand forward, away from your body, so it leaves the base hand.
• 5. Keep the movement short and smooth, then return your hands to a neutral position.

Signs that are easy to confuse with AFTER

The English word “after” covers several ideas, and ASL often uses different signs for them. Pick the sign that matches what you mean.

Meaning | Sign to look up | How it differs

One event follows another (“after work”) | AFTER | Two flat hands. The dominant hand moves forward off the base hand.

One event comes earlier | BEFORE | Uses the same base hand, but the dominant hand moves back toward the body. It is effectively the reverse of AFTER.

Some time from now (“see you later”) | LATER or AFTER-WHILE | A different sign, usually made with an L handshape. It is not the two-flat-hand AFTER.

The part of the day after noon | AFTERNOON | A separate sign, not a combination of AFTER and NOON.

Checking your sign on camera

To compare your sign with a reference video, record yourself or watch a live camera preview. A device can grant camera access and still give a poor view, so check what actually appears in the frame:

• Make sure the frame shows both hands, your chest and your face. Leave space in front of your body for the forward movement.
• Check that the light falls on your hands rather than behind you, so the handshapes don't turn into silhouettes.
• Use a plain physical background that contrasts with your skin tone. Virtual or blurred backgrounds in call apps can smear or clip moving hands.
• Compare three things with your reference: the base hand stays still, both palms face you at the start, and the dominant hand moves forward rather than back. Moving it back would produce BEFORE.

Limitations

Written descriptions can't fully capture movement, speed or facial expression, which carry meaning in ASL. Use this guide as a starting point and check it against a video demonstration or feedback from a fluent signer, especially if you plan to use the sign in conversation.