How to Sign “Attitude” in American Sign Language

The short answer

In American Sign Language (ASL), “attitude” is commonly taught as an initialized sign. An initialized sign uses the handshape of the word’s first fingerspelled letter, which here is A. Make an A handshape with your dominant hand, place the thumb side against your chest near your heart, and move it in a small circle on or just off the chest.

No dictionary entry or video reference was supplied for this article, so treat this as the commonly taught form, not a verified standard. Before you rely on it, check it against a reputable ASL video dictionary or with a fluent Deaf signer. Signs vary by region, community and generation, and a written description cannot fully capture movement.

Two things that change the answer

Which sign language you mean. This guide covers ASL, the main sign language used in the United States and English-speaking Canada. Other sign languages, such as British Sign Language (BSL) or Auslan, are separate languages with their own vocabulary. The ASL sign may not be used or understood in them.

Which meaning of “attitude” you mean. The sign described here refers to a person’s outlook or disposition. In spoken English, “she has an attitude” usually means rudeness or sass. In ASL, much of that meaning comes from facial expression and context, not from the manual sign alone. The available evidence does not confirm whether signers prefer a different sign for the “sassy” sense, so ask a fluent signer if that is the meaning you need.

Forming the sign step by step

• 1. Make the A handshape: close your dominant hand into a fist with the thumb resting straight up along the side of the index finger, not tucked across the front of the fingers.
• 2. Place it at the chest: bring the thumb side of the fist to your chest, roughly over your heart.
• 3. Add the movement: make a small circular motion at that spot, keeping the hand close to the body.
• 4. Match your face to your meaning: use a neutral or pleasant expression for the general concept, and let your expression shift if you are describing a positive or negative attitude.

Common mistakes

• Using an S handshape instead of A: in S, the thumb wraps across the front of the fingers. In A, the thumb rests along the side.
• Signing away from the body: the chest location is part of the sign, so placing it in neutral space in front of you can make it unclear.
• Making the circle too large: the movement is usually small and contained.
• Leaving out facial expression: in ASL, expression is grammatical and carries meaning, not just emotion.

Saying “good attitude” or “bad attitude”

Descriptive phrases are generally built by combining signs, such as signing GOOD or BAD alongside ATTITUDE, with a matching facial expression. Word order and the exact expression can vary between signers. The supplied evidence does not establish a single preferred form, so confirm the phrasing with a fluent signer if accuracy matters, for example in a classroom or interpreting setting.

How to confirm you are signing it correctly

Compare your handshape, location and movement side by side with a video from a reputable ASL dictionary or a Deaf-led teaching source. If the three parts match, you have the basic form. A video comparison cannot tell you whether your local community uses a variant, or whether your expression fits the meaning you intend. Feedback from a fluent signer is the most reliable way to check both.