How to Sign “About” in ASL

The short answer

In American Sign Language (ASL), the common sign for “about” in the sense of “concerning” or “on the topic of” uses both hands. Your non-dominant hand forms a loose bunch with the fingertips touching, and the index finger of your dominant hand circles around those fingertips. You would use this sign in sentences like “The movie is about a family” or “What is the meeting about?”

Your dominant hand is the one you write with. Your non-dominant hand acts as the base that stays mostly still.

Check which “about” you mean

English uses “about” in several ways, and ASL does not use one sign for all of them. Choosing the wrong one changes your meaning.

Meaning in English | Example | What to sign

“Concerning” or “on the topic of” | “A book about dogs” | The sign described in this guide

“Approximately” | “About five people came” | A different sign, commonly shown as an open hand making a small circular motion; look it up before using it

“About to” (soon to happen) | “I’m about to leave” | Usually expressed another way, depending on context; there is no direct word-for-word equivalent

If your sentence means “approximately” or “about to,” do not use the topic sign. Confirm the right sign for that meaning in an ASL dictionary or with an instructor.

How to form the sign step by step

• 1. Hold your non-dominant hand in front of your chest. Bring the fingertips together with the thumb so they touch, forming a loose bunch, and point the fingertips toward your dominant side.
• 2. Extend the index finger of your dominant hand, with the other fingers curled in.
• 3. Bring that index finger near the bunched fingertips of your other hand.
• 4. Move the index finger in a circle around the fingertips, usually more than once. Keep the movement small and smooth.
• 5. Keep your non-dominant hand still while the index finger circles it.

How to tell if you did it right

Watch yourself in a mirror or on a recorded video and check these points:

• The base hand has its fingertips gathered together, not spread flat.
• The base hand stays mostly still.
• Only the index finger of the dominant hand is extended.
• The index finger travels around the base hand’s fingertips rather than tapping or poking them.
• The circle is compact and stays in front of your chest.

A mirror check confirms that you match the description. It cannot confirm that signers in your area will read the sign the way you intend, or that you are using natural grammar and facial expression around it. The most reliable check is feedback from a fluent signer.

Limits of this guide

This guide covers ASL, the sign language most widely used in the United States. Other sign languages, such as British Sign Language, use different signs, so this sign will not carry over. Even within ASL, signs can vary by region and community.

No source material, video demonstrations or dictionary entries were provided for this article. The description reflects the commonly taught form of the sign. Before relying on it, compare it with a reputable ASL video dictionary or ask a Deaf ASL instructor. Movement and handshape are much easier to verify by watching a demonstration than from a written description.