How to Sign "All" in ASL

In American Sign Language (ASL), the common sign for "all" is a sweeping circle. Your dominant hand circles out and around your other hand, then lands with its back resting in your other palm. This guide breaks the sign into steps, explains when a different sign may fit better, and shows how to check that it reads clearly on a video call. No verified source material was supplied for this article. The description below reflects how the sign is commonly taught, so confirm it against a reputable ASL dictionary video or with a fluent Deaf signer.

The short answer

Hold both hands flat with the fingers together. Your dominant hand is the one you write with. It sweeps outward in a circle over and around your non-dominant hand, then comes to rest with its back in your non-dominant palm. The motion suggests gathering everything into one place, which is a useful way to remember it.

Step by step

• 1. Handshape: Flatten both hands with the fingers together and the thumbs alongside. This is often called a flat or B handshape.
• 2. Non-dominant hand: Hold it in front of your chest, palm facing you or angled slightly upward. This hand stays still.
• 3. Starting position: Place your dominant hand near or slightly in front of the non-dominant hand, palm facing outward or down.
• 4. Movement: Sweep the dominant hand outward and around in one smooth circle, passing over and around the non-dominant hand.
• 5. Ending: Finish with the back of your dominant hand resting in the palm of your non-dominant hand, so your dominant palm faces you.
• 6. Keep it smooth: Make it one fluid motion, not a series of separate positions.

When "all" may need a different sign

ASL does not translate English word for word, so the sign above may not fit every sentence with "all" in it. Some common phrases use their own signs:

• "All of you" or "you all": Signers often sweep a pointing index finger across the group they mean.
• "All day": This phrase has its own sign, separate from the general "all."
• "Everyone" or "everybody": These are usually signed separately rather than with "all."

Regional variation and individual signing styles also exist. If you are learning for a specific community, class or interpreter, ask which form they use.

Checking the sign on camera

If you will sign on a video call or recording, a quick self-check helps. Having camera access, getting a working video feed, and having the sign read clearly to the other person are three separate things, so check each one.

• Framing: The sign uses both hands in front of your chest, and the circle extends outward. Keep the space from your head to roughly your waist in view, with room on both sides.
• Mirroring: Many video-call apps mirror your self-view by default. Your hands may appear on the opposite side to you without looking reversed to others. A test recording shows what viewers actually see.
• Lighting: Light your hands and face from the front so the handshape and circle stay distinct.
• Background: A plain physical background that contrasts with your skin tone makes hand movement easier to follow.
• Virtual effects: Background blur and replacement can clip or smear fast-moving hands. If the circular motion looks broken, turn the effect off.
• Motion speed: If the call freezes or blurs during movement, sign slightly slower. If the problem continues, check your connection.

Verifying your result

Record yourself and compare the recording with a video from a reputable ASL dictionary. Check four things: the handshape on both hands, which hand stays still, the direction of the circle, and the ending position. The best confirmation is feedback from a fluent signer, especially on whether "all" or a related sign fits what you want to say.