How to Sign Forever in American Sign Language

The short answer

In American Sign Language (ASL), FOREVER is commonly signed as a compound of two signs. First comes ALWAYS: your dominant index finger traces a small circle in the air. Then comes STILL: your hand changes to a Y handshape, with the thumb and pinky extended and the other fingers folded, and moves forward and away from your body. Together the two parts read as "always, continuing on," which is the meaning of forever.

Two points can change the answer. First, this is the ASL sign used in the US and parts of Canada. British Sign Language, Auslan and other sign languages are separate languages with their own signs. Second, if you meant signing a name or document permanently, that is a different topic. This guide covers sign language only.

Step by step

• 1. Use your dominant hand, the one you write with. Your other hand stays relaxed and is not part of this sign.
• 2. Make a 1 handshape: extend your index finger and curl the other fingers into your palm, with your thumb resting over them.
• 3. Hold the hand at about chest to shoulder height, a little in front of you, with the index finger pointing up and slightly forward.
• 4. Trace a small, smooth circle with your fingertip. This is the ALWAYS portion. In the compound it is usually shortened to about one circle.
• 5. As the circle finishes, change your hand to a Y handshape by extending your thumb and pinky and folding the index, middle and ring fingers.
• 6. With your palm facing down, move the Y hand forward and away from your body in a smooth arc. This is the STILL portion and it ends the sign.
• 7. Let both parts flow into one continuous movement without a pause between them.

How to tell you are signing it correctly

Check yourself in a mirror against a video of a fluent or Deaf ASL signer demonstrating FOREVER. Confirm three things. You start with only the index finger extended. The handshape switches to a Y, not to an open hand or a thumbs-up. The final movement travels forward and away from you, not down or to the side. If those match, your form matches the common version. A mirror check shows only that your hand matches the model. It cannot confirm the finer points of timing, size or facial expression the way feedback from a fluent signer can.

Common mix-ups

• Stopping after the circle: The circling index finger alone is ALWAYS. You need the forward Y-hand movement to make FOREVER.
• Using the wrong final handshape: STILL uses a Y hand with only the thumb and pinky out. Extending the index finger as well creates a different handshape, the one used in I LOVE YOU.
• Making the circle too large or too many times: In the compound, the ALWAYS portion is brief. Big, repeated circles make the sign look like two separate words.
• Pausing between the parts: A noticeable stop can make the sign read as "always" followed by "still" instead of a single sign.

Variations and expression

ASL varies by region, community and individual signer, so you may see FOREVER produced slightly differently. Some signers use a longer circle, some emphasize the forward movement, and some use a shortened form in fast conversation. Facial expression and the size of the movement add meaning. For example, a stretched-out, slower forward motion with matching facial expression can stress how long something lasts. If people in your local Deaf community or class use a different form, follow their usage.

Limits of this guide

No specific source material was supplied for this article. The description above reflects the version of FOREVER widely taught in ASL, but written instructions cannot fully capture movement, speed or facial grammar. Before using the sign somewhere it matters, such as a tattoo, wedding vow, performance or published video, confirm it with a video from a reputable ASL dictionary, a qualified ASL instructor or a Deaf signer. If you need the sign in a language other than ASL, check a source for that specific sign language, because the ASL form will not carry over.