How to Sign Increase

The short answer

In American Sign Language (ASL), INCREASE is commonly signed with both hands in an H handshape. Your non-dominant hand stays still with the palm facing down. Your dominant hand starts palm up, flips over, and lands palm down on top of the fingers of the non-dominant hand. The motion suggests one layer being added on top of another, so the amount gets bigger.

This description applies to ASL, the main sign language used in the United States. Other sign languages, such as British Sign Language, are separate languages and may use a different sign for the same idea. Context also matters. When a signer is showing how something grows, for example a trend described in a conversation, they may express it in other ways. If you need the sign for a specific situation, ask a fluent signer how they would say it in that context.

The handshape you need

An H handshape has the index and middle fingers extended straight and held together side by side. The thumb holds the ring and pinky fingers folded against the palm. This is the same shape as the fingerspelled letter H. Both hands use this shape for INCREASE.

Step by step

• 1. Form an H handshape with both hands.
• 2. Hold your non-dominant hand in front of your body, palm facing down, with the two extended fingers pointing roughly sideways.
• 3. Hold your dominant hand a little to the side of the non-dominant hand, palm facing up.
• 4. Flip your dominant hand over in a short arc so its palm turns down.
• 5. Finish with the extended fingers of your dominant hand resting across or on top of the extended fingers of your non-dominant hand.
• 6. If you are left-handed, swap the roles: your left hand moves and your right hand stays still.

How to check that you did it right

• Both hands show the H shape, with two fingers extended and held together rather than a flat hand or a single finger.
• The non-dominant hand stays in place and does not move.
• The dominant hand starts palm up and ends palm down. The flip is the core of the movement.
• The dominant hand ends on top of the non-dominant fingers, not underneath or beside them.
• The movement is one smooth flip, not a slide or a tap.

Practicing in a mirror or recording yourself helps you compare your handshape, palm direction and movement against the steps above. Remember that a mirror shows your hands reversed. A self-check like this tells you whether your form matches the description. It does not tell you whether the sign looks natural or is easy to understand in conversation. Only feedback from a fluent or Deaf signer can confirm that.

Common mistakes

• Using flat hands instead of H handshapes.
• Placing the dominant hand on top without flipping it.
• Ending with the dominant hand under the non-dominant hand.
• Moving both hands at once instead of keeping the base hand still.

Limits of this guide

No verified source material was available for this article. The description above follows the form of INCREASE that is widely taught in ASL, but signs can vary by region, community and context. Repeating a movement can also change the meaning of a sign in ASL. Before you rely on this sign, for example when preparing to communicate with a Deaf colleague, check it against a video from a reputable ASL dictionary or ask a qualified ASL instructor.