How to Sign “Cracker” in ASL

The sign most commonly taught for CRACKER, the snack food, in American Sign Language (ASL) is made by tapping the elbow of your bent non-dominant arm with your dominant hand closed in a fist. The steps below explain how to form it, what the sign does and does not cover, and how to make sure it reads clearly on a video call.

The short answer

Bend your non-dominant arm so the elbow points outward or slightly down. Make a fist with your dominant hand, in the ASL A handshape (a fist with the thumb resting along the side of the index finger), and tap it against the elbow of the bent arm, usually twice.

Step-by-step

• 1. Choose your hands. Your dominant hand is the one you write with. It makes the movement, and the other arm stays still as the base.
• 2. Bend the base arm. Raise your non-dominant forearm so the arm is bent at the elbow, roughly in front of your body, with the elbow exposed.
• 3. Form the handshape. Close your dominant hand into an A handshape: fingers curled into the palm, thumb against the side of the index finger.
• 4. Tap the elbow. Bring the fist to the elbow of the bent arm and tap it lightly, usually two times.
• 5. Keep it relaxed. The tap is a small, light contact, not a strike.

Which meaning of “cracker” this covers

ASL signs represent concepts rather than English words, so one English word can map to several different signs. The elbow-tap sign refers to crackers as food, such as saltines or snack crackers. It is not a general translation for other uses of the word.

• Firecracker, nutcracker and similar compounds are separate concepts. Look them up individually rather than reusing the food sign.
• “Cracker” used as a derogatory term for a person has nothing to do with the food sign. The materials for this guide did not include evidence about how that usage is signed, so it is not covered here.
• Specific brands or types, such as graham crackers, may be fingerspelled or combined with other signs. This guide has no confirmed information on those forms.

Variation and how to verify the sign

ASL varies by region, community and generation, and some signers may use a different form or movement for CRACKER. This guide gives the form that is widely taught. It does not cite a specific dictionary or survey, because none was included in the source materials. Before relying on the sign, compare it with a video entry in a reputable ASL dictionary, or ask a Deaf signer or an ASL instructor what is used in your area. If you aren't sure the other person knows the sign, you can fingerspell C-R-A-C-K-E-R as a fallback.

Signing it clearly on a video call

This sign depends on the elbow, which sits lower and further to the side than many signs made near the face. A webcam framed tightly on your head can cut it off. Your camera can be working normally while the sign still fails to come through, so check the framing itself, not just whether video appears.

• Framing: position the camera so your view shows you from roughly the waist up, with both elbows inside the frame. Use your own self-view to confirm.
• Distance: sit back far enough that your bent arm doesn't run past the edge of the frame.
• Lighting: light your front rather than sitting with a bright window behind you. Backlighting can turn your hands and arms into silhouettes.
• Background: a plain physical background that contrasts with your skin and clothing helps hand shapes stand out. Virtual background or blur effects can make moving hands and arms flicker or partly vanish, so test them before a call or turn them off while signing.
• Motion: a light, deliberate tap usually comes through more clearly than a fast one, especially on a slow or unstable connection, where quick movements can blur.

Quick self-check

• Is my dominant hand in a fist with the thumb along the side?
• Am I tapping the elbow, not the forearm or wrist?
• Does my self-view show the whole movement, including the elbow?
• Have I compared the sign with a dictionary video or a fluent signer for my region?