How to Sign "Another" in American Sign Language

The short answer

In American Sign Language (ASL), "another" is usually signed the same way as "other." Make a loose fist with your thumb pointing up. Then twist your wrist so the thumb tips over and points out to the side, away from your body. If you sign with your right hand, the thumb ends up pointing right. If you sign with your left hand, it ends up pointing left.

Two details can change the answer. First, sign languages are not universal. British Sign Language, Auslan, and other national sign languages use different signs, so this guide covers ASL only, the sign language most widely used in the US. Second, English "another" has more than one meaning. The handshape described here fits the meaning "a different one" (another person, another option). When you mean "one more" (another cup, another try), signers often use a sign for MORE, or ONE plus a sign for MORE, instead. Which choice sounds natural depends on context, so check with a fluent signer if the distinction matters.

Step by step

• 1. Use your dominant hand, the one you write with.
• 2. Form the handshape: curl your fingers into a relaxed fist and stick the thumb straight up. Teachers often call this the A or 10 handshape.
• 3. Start position: hold the hand in front of your chest or slightly to your dominant side, palm facing sideways and thumb pointing at the ceiling.
• 4. Movement: rotate your wrist outward in one smooth motion so the thumb tips over and points to your dominant side. Your forearm should barely move. The rotation does the work.
• 5. Finish: stop with the thumb pointing sideways. Make the motion once, not back and forth.

How to check that you did it right

Watch yourself in a mirror, or open the camera preview on your phone or computer. Look for these signs that you got it right: the thumb starts pointing up and ends pointing sideways, away from your body; the fingers stay curled the whole time; and the movement is a single wrist twist rather than a sweep of the whole arm.

Be aware that many phone and video-call apps mirror the self-view preview by default. In the preview, a right-handed sign can look as if the thumb is pointing left. Other people on the call usually see the unmirrored image, so trust the direction relative to your own body rather than the direction on screen.

Checking yourself this way tells you whether your handshape and movement match the description. It can't tell you whether the sign fits your sentence, whether it matches local or regional usage, or whether your facial expression and timing look natural. Fluent signers judge those things, not a mirror.

Making the sign readable on a video call

If you plan to use the sign on camera, sit far enough back that your hands and upper body stay in the frame while you sign at chest height. Light your hands and face from the front, and choose a plain background that contrasts with your skin tone so the handshape stands out. A visible camera picture only shows that the camera works. Whether others can read your signs also depends on lighting, framing, and connection quality, so ask the person you're talking to whether your signing comes through clearly.

Limitations of this guide

This article was written without supplied reference videos, dictionary entries, or input from Deaf signers. The description above follows the form commonly taught for OTHER/ANOTHER in ASL, but signs vary by region, community, and context. A written description also can't show movement as clearly as video. Before relying on the sign in an important conversation, compare it against a reputable ASL dictionary video or ask a Deaf or fluent ASL instructor.