How to Sign ASL in American Sign Language

The short answer

The most common way to sign "ASL" is to fingerspell the three letters A-S-L with your dominant hand. Fluent signers often run the letters together into one smooth movement rather than holding each letter separately. This is the form most people mean when they ask for the ASL sign for ASL.

Your question could mean one of two things. If you want the abbreviation, use the fingerspelled A-S-L. If you want the full name, "American Sign Language," signers can use a three-sign phrase: AMERICAN, SIGN, LANGUAGE. Both forms are described below.

How to fingerspell A-S-L

Fingerspelling means spelling a word letter by letter with handshapes from the manual alphabet. Hold your dominant hand at about shoulder height, a little to the side of your face, with your palm facing the person you are signing to.

• A: Make a fist with your thumb resting straight up along the side of your index finger.
• S: Keep the fist, but move your thumb across the front of your curled fingers.
• L: Extend your thumb and index finger to form an L shape, with the other fingers curled down.

Keep your hand in one spot while you change shapes. Don't bounce or push your hand forward for each letter. A steady, relaxed rhythm is easier to read than a fast one.

Signing "American Sign Language" in full

• AMERICAN: Interlace the fingers of both hands and move them together in a small horizontal circle in front of your body.
• SIGN: Point both index fingers up and move them in alternating circles toward yourself, like the hands of a moving wheel.
• LANGUAGE: Make an L shape with both hands, thumbs close together, then pull the hands apart sideways, often with a slight wiggle.

In everyday conversation, many signers simply fingerspell A-S-L instead of signing the full phrase. Handshapes and movements can also vary between regions and communities. That is normal and does not mean one version is wrong.

Limits of this guide

No verified source material was supplied for this article. The descriptions above reflect widely taught forms, but text cannot fully show movement, timing or facial expression. To confirm a sign, watch a demonstration by a Deaf signer or a qualified ASL instructor. Asking a Deaf community member is also a good way to learn the local variant.

Checking your signing on camera

If you plan to sign on a video call or record yourself to practice, check these points before you rely on the result:

• Framing: Keep your hands, face and upper torso fully in the frame, including the space beside your shoulder where you fingerspell.
• Lighting: Light your face and hands from the front so the handshapes are not lost in shadow.
• Background: A plain physical background in a color that contrasts with your skin makes handshapes easier to read. Virtual background or blur effects in call apps can cut off or smear moving fingers, so test with them turned off.
• Camera access versus clarity: If the app shows your camera is working, that only confirms access. Record a short clip or ask the other person whether they can actually read your fingerspelling, because a low frame rate or a weak connection can blur fast hand movement.

If your letters look blurred in a recording, slow down slightly and hold each handshape a moment longer. Then check the clip again.