How to Sign “Enjoy” in American Sign Language

The short answer

In American Sign Language (ASL), ENJOY is usually taught with both hands open and flat, palms facing your body. One hand rests on your upper chest and the other on your lower chest or stomach. Both hands make small circles against the body, commonly in opposite directions, with a relaxed, pleased facial expression.

The same sign is often used for related ideas such as “pleasure” or “like doing something,” so context decides the exact meaning.

Which sign language this covers

Sign languages are not universal. This guide describes the sign commonly used in ASL, which is the main sign language in the United States and parts of Canada. British Sign Language, Auslan and other sign languages have different signs for “enjoy.” If you are communicating with someone outside the US, ask which sign language they use.

Step-by-step: forming the sign

• 1. Open both hands, fingers together and extended, so each hand is flat.
• 2. Turn both palms toward your body.
• 3. Place your dominant hand (the one you write with) on your upper chest.
• 4. Place your other hand below it, on your lower chest or upper stomach.
• 5. Move both hands in small circles while they stay in light contact with your body. Many teachers show the hands circling in opposite directions.
• 6. Keep the movement smooth and repeated rather than a single circle.
• 7. Add a pleasant facial expression, such as a slight smile or relaxed eyebrows. Facial expression is part of the meaning in ASL, not decoration.

Signs that are easy to confuse with ENJOY

Sign | How it differs from ENJOY

ENJOY | Two flat hands, one higher and one lower, both circling on the chest or stomach.

PLEASE | One flat hand only, circling on the chest. Using one hand can turn your “enjoy” into “please.”

APPRECIATE | Some signers use a different handshape, with the middle finger bent toward the chest. Others treat it as close to ENJOY. Usage varies.

The most common beginner mistake is using only one hand. If someone reads your sign as PLEASE, check that both hands are moving.

Using ENJOY in a sentence

ASL grammar does not follow English word order sign for sign. A phrase such as “I enjoy cooking” is often expressed by establishing the topic (COOK) and then signing ENJOY with a positive expression, sometimes with a point to yourself. To show strong enjoyment, signers usually make the expression and movement more emphatic rather than adding a separate word like “very.” Phrasing varies between signers and regions, so treat these patterns as typical rather than fixed rules.

How to check that you are signing it correctly

• Watch yourself in a mirror and confirm: both hands are flat, both palms face your body, one hand is clearly above the other, and both are circling.
• If you record yourself, frame the shot from about the top of your head to your waist so both hands and your face are visible.
• Compare your version with a video from an ASL dictionary or course taught by Deaf instructors. Pay attention to the direction of the circles and the facial expression.
• The most reliable check is feedback from a fluent signer, ideally a Deaf ASL user, who can tell you whether the sign reads naturally.

A mirror or recording only shows whether your hands match a description. It cannot confirm that the sign looks natural, matches local usage or fits the sentence you are building. Fluent feedback covers those gaps.

Limitations of this guide

No source material was supplied for this article. The description reflects how ENJOY is widely taught in ASL. Details such as whether the circles go in the same or opposite directions, and how the sign relates to APPRECIATE, vary between teachers and signers. A written description also cannot fully capture movement, so use it alongside video examples and practice with fluent signers.