How to Sign “Anything” in ASL

The short answer

In American Sign Language (ASL), “anything” is commonly expressed as a compound of two signs: ANY followed by THING. In ASL dictionaries and teaching materials, words written in capital letters are glosses, meaning English labels for signs. A gloss is not a word-for-word translation.

No verified source material was supplied for this guide. The description below reflects the form widely taught in introductory ASL. Handshape details and movement can vary by region, signer and context. Before you rely on it, check it against a video from a reputable ASL dictionary or with a fluent Deaf signer.

How to form the sign

• 1. ANY: Make an A handshape with your dominant hand. This is a closed fist with the thumb resting alongside it, and for ANY the thumb usually sticks out. Give the wrist a short twist so the hand rotates.
• 2. THING: Open your dominant hand flat, palm facing up. Move it toward your dominant side with a small bounce or two along the way.
• 3. Join the two signs in one smooth motion, without a long pause between ANY and THING.
• 4. Use a neutral facial expression for a plain statement. For a question, add the facial grammar that matches the question type (see the next section).

When the context changes the sign

ASL does not always map one English word to one sign. The meaning you want can call for a different sign or structure than ANY + THING:

• “Anything” as a yes/no question (“Do you need anything?”): ASL questions rely on facial grammar. Yes/no questions are typically marked with raised eyebrows, and the word order may differ from English.
• “Not anything” or “I don’t have anything”: ASL usually expresses this with a sign meaning NOTHING or NONE rather than negating ANYTHING.
• “Anything is fine” or “whatever you want”: signers often use a sign glossed as WHATEVER, or an expression of indifference, instead of a literal ANYTHING.
• “Anything else?”: this is commonly signed as a phrase built around a sign for OTHER or MORE, together with question facial grammar.

If you are translating a specific sentence, ask a fluent signer how they would express the whole idea. Looking up the single English word can produce an unnatural or misleading result.

Checking your signing on camera

If you are practicing in front of a webcam or signing during a video call, confirm that the sign is actually visible to the other person. A camera that is switched on and has permission in your browser or operating system does not guarantee a readable picture.

• Framing: keep your head, shoulders and the space in front of your chest in view. THING moves out to the side, so leave room for it on your dominant side.
• Lighting: light your face and hands from the front. A bright window behind you can turn your hands into silhouettes and hide the handshape.
• Background: a plain, uncluttered physical background with color contrast to your skin and clothing makes handshapes easier to read. Virtual background or blur effects can make moving hands blur or partly disappear, so test before relying on one.
• Mirroring: many video apps show you a mirrored self-view, but other participants see the unmirrored image. Do not “correct” your hand to match the preview.
• Verification: record a short clip or ask a call partner to confirm they can clearly see both parts of the compound. Remember that a smooth preview on your screen says nothing certain about the video quality on their end.

Limitations of this guide

This article gives a written description of a movement-based language. A written description cannot fully capture timing, palm orientation or facial grammar. No supplied evidence confirms regional variants or a single standard form. A video reference or feedback from a Deaf ASL user is the most reliable way to confirm you are producing the sign as intended.