How to Sign "Breathe" in American Sign Language

The short answer

In American Sign Language (ASL), the sign most commonly given for "breathe" shows your chest moving as you breathe. Hold both hands flat with your palms facing your chest, one hand a little above the other. Then move both hands a short distance away from your chest and back again, usually twice. The in-and-out motion copies the chest expanding and relaxing.

This article uses ASL because US readers usually mean ASL when they search for a sign. Other sign languages, such as British Sign Language, are separate languages with their own vocabulary. If you are learning for a specific person or community, check which sign language they use.

Points that can change the meaning

• "Breathe" vs. "breath": Many sources show one sign for both. Some signers mark the difference through how the movement is repeated, but this guide has no confirmed source on that detail, so check a video dictionary if it matters.
• Phrases like "can't breathe" or "take a deep breath": These are signed as phrases, not as a single word. Facial expression and the size or speed of the movement carry much of the meaning. Learn them as whole phrases from a fluent signer rather than piecing them together word by word.
• Regional and personal variation: Signs differ between regions and between signers. The form above is a widely taught version, not the only correct one.

Step by step

• 1. Handshape: Open both hands flat, fingers together and relaxed, thumbs resting alongside.
• 2. Orientation: Turn your palms toward your body.
• 3. Location: Place your hands at chest height, close to your body. Put one hand slightly above the other; neither hand needs to touch your chest.
• 4. Movement: Move both hands outward a few inches together, then back toward your chest. Repeat the motion, usually twice, smoothly and without force.
• 5. Facial expression: Let your face match what you mean, for example relaxed for calm breathing. In ASL, facial expression is part of the grammar and meaning, not just decoration.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Palms facing outward instead of toward your chest.
• Moving your hands up and down rather than forward and back.
• Using only one hand when the sign uses both.
• Making the movement so large that it no longer looks like a chest rising and falling.
• Keeping your face blank when the context calls for expression.

How to check that you are signing it correctly

Watch yourself in a mirror, or record a short clip, and compare it with an ASL video dictionary or a lesson from a Deaf instructor. Check these four things: palms facing in, hands at chest height, both hands moving together, and a repeated in-and-out motion.

Comparing yourself to a video confirms that your form matches one reference. It can't tell you whether your local Deaf community prefers a different variant, or whether a full phrase reads naturally. Feedback from a fluent signer is the most reliable way to settle those questions.

Limits of this guide

No source material was supplied for this article. The description above reflects the commonly taught ASL form and has not been checked against a specific dictionary entry. Written instructions also can't show the exact rhythm and spacing of a sign. Use a video reference from a reputable ASL source to confirm it, especially if you need the sign for medical, safety or professional communication. In those settings, a qualified interpreter is the appropriate choice.