How to Sign "And" in ASL

The short answer

The ASL sign for "and" uses one hand. Start with your dominant hand open and fingers spread, palm facing your body, in front of your chest. Move the hand sideways toward your dominant side while bringing the fingertips together to meet the thumb. The hand starts open and ends closed as it travels.

There is an important caveat. In natural ASL, "and" is often not signed at all. ASL grammar usually links ideas through word order, a brief pause, listing items on the fingers of the non-dominant hand, or shifting the body or gaze between items. The separate AND sign appears more often in English-based signing, which follows English word order, or when a signer wants to stress the connection. If your goal is ASL rather than English word for word, translating every "and" can look unnatural.

Step by step

• 1. Use your dominant hand, the one you write with. The other hand stays relaxed.
• 2. Hold the hand in front of your chest with the fingers spread and pointing roughly toward your non-dominant side, palm facing you.
• 3. Move the hand sideways toward your dominant side in one smooth motion.
• 4. While moving, close the fingertips together so they meet the thumb.
• 5. Finish with the fingertips closed. Do not repeat the motion.

When to use the sign and when to leave it out

• Usually left out: simple lists, such as naming things you bought. Signers often list items on the fingers of the non-dominant hand instead.
• Usually left out: two short connected actions. A pause or the order of the signs carries the meaning.
• More likely signed: English-based signing contexts, or when emphasizing "and also" or "and then."
• If you are unsure: watch how fluent Deaf signers handle the same kind of sentence. Usage varies by region and by individual.

Checking the sign on camera

A webcam or phone preview lets you see your movement, but many video-call apps mirror your self-view by default while showing other people an unmirrored image. In a mirrored preview, your hand appears to move the opposite way from what the other person sees. This does not mean you signed it wrong. Judge direction by what your own hand does relative to your body, not by the screen.

• Frame yourself from about the waist or mid-chest up, with space on both sides, so the sideways motion stays in view.
• Use even front lighting so your fingers stay visible when they close.
• A plain physical background or a blur effect keeps your hand easy to see. Some virtual background effects can blur or cut off fast-moving fingers.
• Record a short clip and play it back to check that the hand clearly starts open and ends closed.

Limitations of this guide

No source material, video references, or regional usage data were provided for this article. The description above reflects the commonly taught form of the sign, and written descriptions of handshape and movement are imprecise. Regional and personal variants exist. To confirm the sign and learn when fluent signers actually use it, check a reputable ASL video dictionary or ask a Deaf ASL instructor.