How to sign “become”

The short answer

In American Sign Language (ASL), the language most widely used by Deaf communities in the US, “become” is commonly signed with two flat hands. The palms face each other, one hand above the other. You then rotate both hands so they swap places. The idea is a change of state: one thing turns into another.

Two points can change this answer. First, sign languages are not universal. British Sign Language, Auslan and other national sign languages have their own vocabulary, so this description applies to ASL only. Second, ASL often expresses “become” without a separate sign, depending on what is becoming what. That is covered below.

Step-by-step: signing BECOME in ASL

• 1. Make both hands flat, with fingers together and extended. This is often called a flat or “B” handshape.
• 2. Hold your hands in front of your chest with the palms facing each other, one hand above the other. They can touch lightly or nearly touch.
• 3. Keep your hands close together and rotate them around each other. The top hand moves to the bottom and the bottom hand moves to the top, so their positions reverse.
• 4. End with the hands still facing each other in the swapped position. The movement should be a single smooth twist, not a repeated motion.

How to check your form

• Handshape: your fingers stay flat and together the whole time. They should not curl into fists or spread apart.
• Orientation: at the start and the end, your palms face each other.
• Movement: the hands clearly trade places in one rotation. They should not just slide sideways or tap together.
• Location: the sign happens in the neutral space in front of your chest, not at your face or off to the side.

A mirror is the simplest way to check these points. Watching a recorded or live demonstration by a fluent signer is even better, because a written description can't fully show speed, size or the exact path of the hands. Comparing your movement with a video entry in a reputable ASL dictionary, or with a Deaf signer or certified instructor, is the most reliable check.

When ASL doesn't use a separate “become” sign

English uses “become” for many kinds of change. ASL grammar often handles these differently, so a word-for-word translation can sound unnatural. Some general patterns:

• Changes in condition or feeling, such as “she became sick,” are often signed with the state itself, sometimes alongside a sign meaning “get” or “happen,” rather than with BECOME.
• Growing into a role, such as “he became a teacher,” may be expressed with signs that show time passing or growing up, followed by the role.
• The BECOME sign itself fits best when you want to stress a transformation, meaning one thing turning into another.

Which option is most natural depends on context and on regional or personal signing style. If you are translating a specific sentence, ask a fluent signer how they would phrase the whole idea rather than looking up each English word on its own.

Limitations of this guide

No source material was supplied to confirm this description. The handshape and movement above follow the commonly taught form, but signs vary by region, generation and community, and a text description can leave out details that only video shows. Before using the sign in an important setting, such as teaching, interpreting or formal communication, confirm it with a video ASL dictionary or a qualified Deaf instructor.