How to Sign "Favorite" in American Sign Language

The short answer

In American Sign Language (ASL), FAVORITE is commonly signed by tapping your chin with the tip of your middle finger, usually twice. Your hand is open with the fingers spread, and only the middle finger bends forward to make contact. The same sign covers "favorite" as in "my favorite food" and, in many contexts, "prefer."

This guide describes ASL because it is the main sign language used in the United States. Other sign languages, such as British Sign Language, use different signs. If you are learning for a specific person or community, ask what they use.

How to form the sign, step by step

• 1. Use your dominant hand, the one you write with. If you are left-handed, use your left hand. The sign means the same thing either way.
• 2. Make the handshape: open your hand, spread your fingers, then bend only your middle finger forward so it points toward you. Signers often call this the "open 8" handshape. Your palm faces your body.
• 3. Bring the hand up in front of your face so the tip of your bent middle finger is just below your lower lip, on the chin.
• 4. Tap the chin lightly with the middle fingertip, usually twice. Keep the movement small and relaxed.
• 5. Add a natural, positive facial expression. In ASL, facial expression carries meaning, and a flat expression can make the sign look less sincere.

How to check your form

Practice in front of a mirror and confirm each of these:

• Only the middle finger is bent. The other fingers stay extended and spread.
• The contact point is the chin, not the cheek or the side of the mouth.
• You tap with the fingertip, not the knuckle or the side of the finger.
• The taps are short and light, not a long rub or one hard press.
• Your face looks engaged and positive.

A mirror can show whether your form matches the description, but it cannot confirm that your sign reads clearly to a fluent signer. The most reliable check is to compare yourself with a video from a reputable ASL dictionary or to ask a Deaf signer or qualified ASL teacher to watch.

Signs that look similar

The same handshape near the mouth also appears in the ASL sign for TASTE. Small differences in contact point, repetition, and movement separate the two, and context usually makes the meaning clear. If a sign you see in a video differs from this description, the difference may reflect regional or personal variation rather than a mistake. No source evidence was supplied for this article, so treat the description above as a general reference and confirm it with a video dictionary or a signer you trust.

When "favorite" means something else

"Favorite" can mean different things, and the sign may change with the meaning:

• "My favorite" or "I prefer": use the chin-tap sign described above.
• A "favorite" button or "add to favorites" in an app or browser: signers may handle this technical term differently, for example by fingerspelling it or by describing the action. Ask the person you are communicating with which they prefer.
• "The favorite" in a race or competition: this meaning is less settled. Fingerspelling or rephrasing (for example, "expected to win") may be clearer.

If you are unsure, fingerspell it

If you cannot recall the sign or are unsure it fits the context, you can fingerspell F-A-V-O-R-I-T-E using the ASL manual alphabet. Fingerspelling takes longer but is widely understood. Once the other person shows you the sign they use, switch to it.