How to sign “bring”

The short answer

In American Sign Language (ASL), BRING is usually made with both hands open and palms facing up. Hold them in front of your body, one hand slightly ahead of the other, as if you were carrying something. Then move both hands together in a small arc from where the object starts to where it ends up.

The direction of the movement is part of the meaning. BRING is a directional verb, which means its path shows who brings something to whom. If you move it toward yourself, it means “bring it to me.” If you move it away from yourself toward the person you are talking to, it means “I’ll bring it to you.” If you get the direction wrong, you can reverse the meaning of the sentence.

This guide covers ASL, the sign language used most widely in the US. Other sign languages, such as British Sign Language, use different signs. ASL also varies by region and community, so you may see slightly different versions of BRING.

Step by step

• 1. Open both hands with the fingers together and the palms facing up.
• 2. Hold your hands at about waist to chest height, a little apart, with one hand slightly in front of the other.
• 3. Choose the starting point: where the thing is now, or who has it.
• 4. Choose the end point: where it should go, or who receives it.
• 5. Move both hands together in one smooth, small arc from the start to the end, keeping your palms up the whole time.

Changing the direction to change the meaning

Meaning | Start of the movement | End of the movement

Bring it to me | Out in front of you, toward the other person or the object | Close to your own body

I’ll bring it to you | Near your own body | Toward the person you are addressing

She or he brings it to them | A point in space you have assigned to the first person | A point in space you have assigned to the second person

In ASL, signers often assign people or places to points in the space around them. Once a point has been set, BRING can move from one point to another to show the path, so you do not need to repeat names.

When “bring” is not signed as BRING

The BRING sign means carrying or moving something from one place to another. English phrases that use “bring” in a different sense, such as “bring up a topic” or “bring about a change,” are usually signed by their meaning instead of word for word. For example, a signer might use a sign that means mention or cause. If you are translating a phrase like these, first ask yourself what it actually means.

How to check your sign

Practice in front of a mirror or record a short video of yourself. Check these points:

• Both hands stay open with the palms up from start to finish.
• Both hands move together rather than one hand moving alone.
• The movement is one smooth arc, not a jerky push or a repeated motion.
• The arc clearly ends at the intended person or place, such as your body for “to me.”

A self-check like this confirms that your handshape and path match the description above. It cannot tell you whether your version is natural, whether it matches the variant used in your area, or whether your facial expression and sentence structure fit the context. A fluent or Deaf signer, an ASL instructor, or a reputable ASL video dictionary can confirm those things.

Limits of this guide

No source material was supplied for this article. The description above is based on how BRING is commonly taught in ASL. Before you use it in an important conversation, check it against a video demonstration or a fluent signer. Sign movement is much easier to understand by watching than by reading.