How to Sign "Man" in American Sign Language

The short answer

In American Sign Language (ASL), the most widely taught sign for "man" uses an open hand with the fingers spread, called the 5 handshape. Touch the tip of your thumb to your forehead, then move your hand down and touch your thumb to the center of your chest. The palm faces sideways throughout, and the fingers stay spread and relaxed.

Some clarifications affect this answer. The sign above is for ASL, the sign language most commonly used in the US. Other sign languages, such as British Sign Language (BSL), have different signs for "man". This guide also covers "man" as a noun meaning an adult male. It does not cover exclamations like "oh man!", which are expressed differently in ASL. Ask a fluent signer how to express that kind of reaction.

Step by step

• 1. Use your dominant hand. If you are right-handed, use your right hand. Left-handed signers mirror the sign with their left hand.
• 2. Form a 5 handshape. Extend all five fingers and spread them apart, like a hand held up to show the number five.
• 3. Turn the palm so it faces sideways, toward your non-dominant side, with the thumb nearest your face.
• 4. Touch the tip of your thumb to the middle of your forehead.
• 5. Keep the handshape the same and move your hand straight down in one smooth motion.
• 6. Finish with the tip of your thumb touching the center of your chest.

Why the sign is made this way

In ASL, many signs related to males are made near the forehead, such as BOY and FATHER. Many signs related to females are made near the chin and jaw. The forehead starting point of MAN follows that pattern. The movement to the chest echoes the sign FINE, which is a 5 hand with the thumb on the chest. Knowing this pattern helps you remember the sign and recognize related vocabulary.

Signs that are easy to confuse

Sign | How it is made | Difference from MAN

FATHER | 5 hand, thumb taps the forehead | Stays at the forehead and does not move to the chest

FINE | 5 hand, thumb touches the chest | Starts and ends at the chest, with no forehead contact

BOY | Fingers open and close near the forehead, like gripping a cap brim | Different handshape and movement, though in the same area

MAN | 5 hand, thumb touches the forehead and then the chest | Combines both locations in one downward movement

How to check that you are signing it correctly

Watch yourself in a mirror, or record a short video, and check these points:

• The fingers stay spread from start to finish.
• The thumb, not the fingertips or palm, makes contact at the forehead and at the chest.
• The movement is one clear downward path, not two separate taps.
• The sign ends at the chest. If it doesn't, it can look like FATHER.

A mirror or video confirms that the handshape, contact points and movement look the way they are described here. It cannot confirm that the sign matches local usage or that your signing is natural. Only feedback from a fluent signer can do that.

Limitations and variation

No source material was supplied for this guide. The description reflects the form most commonly taught in ASL instruction. ASL has regional, generational and community variation, and older or alternative forms of MAN exist. For example, some signers use a form that begins at the forehead and then indicates an adult's height with a flat hand. If you are learning for a particular person, school or community, confirm with a Deaf signer, a qualified ASL instructor or a reputable ASL dictionary. If you need a sign language other than ASL, look for resources specific to that language. Signs for "man" do not carry over between sign languages.