How to Sign “Again” in American Sign Language

In American Sign Language (ASL), “again” is signed with both hands. Your non-dominant hand is held open with the palm facing up. Your dominant hand is bent and flips over so its fingertips land in the center of that open palm. The same sign is also commonly used for “repeat.”

One point changes the answer: there is no single universal sign language. This guide covers ASL, the language used in the United States and much of Canada. British Sign Language, Auslan, Russian Sign Language and others use different signs for “again.” If you are communicating with someone who uses a different sign language, the hand shape and movement here may not be understood.

Step-by-step: signing “again” in ASL

• 1. Hold your non-dominant hand (your left hand if you are right-handed) in front of your chest. Keep it flat with the fingers together and the palm facing up.
• 2. Form a bent hand with your dominant hand. Keep the fingers together and straight, and bend them forward at the knuckles where they meet the palm. Tuck your thumb alongside your hand.
• 3. Start your dominant hand beside your other hand, a little above it, with the palm facing up.
• 4. Flip your dominant hand over in a small arc toward your other hand, so the palm turns down.
• 5. End with the fingertips of your dominant hand touching the center of your open palm.

The movement should be one smooth, short arc. You do not need a large or forceful motion. A light, clear contact in the palm is enough.

Asking someone to repeat themselves

In ASL, facial expression is part of the grammar, not just decoration. To ask “Again?” or “Can you say that again?”, sign AGAIN while raising your eyebrows and leaning your head slightly forward. That expression marks a yes/no question. You can add the sign for PLEASE to soften the request. Signing AGAIN with a neutral face reads more like a statement than a request.

Common mistakes

• Using a cupped or clawed hand instead of a flat bent hand with the fingers together.
• Landing the fingertips on the edge or heel of the palm instead of the center.
• Tapping straight down without the flip, which removes the motion that makes the sign recognizable.
• Leaving out the questioning expression when you actually mean to ask someone to repeat.

Checking that the sign is clear on a video call

If you plan to use the sign on camera, three things are separate: whether the browser or app has camera access, whether the camera is actually capturing video, and whether the person on the other end can read your hands clearly. Granting camera permission only covers the first one. To check the others, open a camera preview or a self-view in your calling app and sign AGAIN a few times while watching yourself.

• Framing: make sure the preview shows your hands, chest and face together. The sign happens in front of your chest, and your facial expression carries meaning, so cropping at the shoulders cuts off part of the message.
• Lighting: put the main light in front of you, not behind you. A bright window behind you can turn your hands into a silhouette.
• Background: a plain physical background that contrasts with your skin tone makes hand shapes easier to see. Virtual blur or background-replacement effects can sometimes smear or clip fast hand movements. If your hands look patchy in the preview, try turning the effect off.
• Motion: if the movement looks blurry, add more light or slow the sign slightly. Low light often makes cameras blur moving objects more.

A self-view preview shows how the image looks on your side, but it does not guarantee how it looks to others. Compression and connection quality can reduce clarity at the receiving end. When it matters, ask the other person whether your signing is clear.

Verifying your sign and known gaps

No specific source material, such as a dictionary entry, video reference or instructor review, was supplied for this guide. The description above reflects the standard ASL sign as it is commonly taught. ASL also has regional and personal variation, and signers may change the movement to add meaning. Repeating or reshaping the motion is one way to express ideas like “over and over.” Those variations are not covered here. To confirm your hand shape and movement, compare your signing with a video from a reputable ASL dictionary, or ask a Deaf signer or certified ASL instructor for feedback.