How to Sign “Amazing” in American Sign Language

In American Sign Language (ASL), the sign language most widely used in the US, there is no single sign that every signer uses for “amazing.” People commonly express the idea with a sign meaning something like “wonderful” or with a surprise-style sign showing wide eyes. In both cases, facial expression does much of the work. Other sign languages, such as British Sign Language, use different signs, so the forms below apply to ASL only.

The short answer

To say something is amazing in a positive, impressed way, many signers use a WONDERFUL-style sign made with both open hands. To say something is astonishing or hard to believe, a surprise-style sign near the eyes is often a better fit. Pair either sign with raised eyebrows and an animated face. If you are learning for a specific person or community, the sign they use is the one to adopt.

Option 1: The “wonderful” form

• 1. Raise both hands to about shoulder or upper-chest height, slightly in front of your body.
• 2. Open your hands and spread your fingers, with palms facing away from you. This is often called a “5” handshape.
• 3. Push both hands a short distance forward and slightly upward, usually with a small repeated motion.
• 4. At the same time, raise your eyebrows and show a bright, impressed expression.

This form suits everyday praise, such as “That meal was amazing” or “You did an amazing job.”

Option 2: The surprise or “eyes widening” form

• 1. Bring each hand up beside the outer corner of an eye.
• 2. Pinch the tip of your index finger and thumb together on each hand.
• 3. Flick the index finger and thumb apart so they open, suggesting eyes popping wide.
• 4. Widen your eyes and raise your eyebrows as your fingers open.

This form leans toward “astonishing” or “I can't believe it.” It fits moments of genuine surprise better than general praise.

Why your face matters as much as your hands

ASL uses non-manual markers: facial expressions, eyebrow position, and head or body movement that are part of the grammar and meaning, not decoration. A flat expression can make an “amazing” sign look mild or even sarcastic. A bigger expression and a slightly larger or more emphatic movement can raise the intensity, roughly like saying “absolutely amazing.”

If you are unsure which sign to use

Watch how the people you sign with express the idea and follow their lead. Signs vary by region, age group, and community. As a fallback, you can fingerspell A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. This means spelling the English word letter by letter with the manual alphabet. Fingerspelling is understandable but usually less natural than a sign plus expression.

How to check that you are signing it correctly

• Compare your sign with a video in a reputable ASL dictionary or from a qualified ASL instructor, checking handshape, palm direction, location, and movement.
• Practice in a mirror or record a short clip of yourself. Make sure your hands and your full face are clearly visible, because the expression is part of the sign.
• Ask a fluent or Deaf signer for feedback. They are the only reliable check on whether your version looks natural and is the one used in their community.

Matching a reference video confirms that your hand movements look right. It does not confirm that the sign is the one people around you use, or that your expression reads the way you intend. Only feedback from fluent signers settles those points. If you will sign on a video call, keep your hands and face inside the frame, since a sign that drifts out of view may be missed.

What this guide cannot confirm

The sign descriptions above are based on commonly taught ASL forms. They were not checked against a dictionary entry or video supplied for this article. Written descriptions also cannot fully capture movement and timing. Treat these steps as a starting point, and confirm the details with an ASL dictionary video, an instructor, or members of the Deaf community.