How to Sign "Office" in American Sign Language

The short answer

In American Sign Language (ASL), the sign commonly taught for "office" uses both hands in an O handshape to outline the walls of a small box or room in front of your body. It is closely related to the signs for ROOM and BOX. The O handshape, borrowed from the letter O, marks it as "office." A sign that borrows a letter shape this way is called an initialized sign.

A limitation applies before you rely on this. No verified dictionary entry or video source was supplied for this guide, so the description below reflects the commonly taught form, not a confirmed reference. Signs can vary by region, community and generation. Compare your version against a reputable ASL video dictionary or a fluent Deaf signer, especially before using it at work.

Two things that can change the answer

• Which sign language: This guide covers ASL, the sign language most widely used in the US and English-speaking Canada. British Sign Language (BSL), Auslan and other sign languages are separate languages with their own vocabulary, so the ASL sign will not carry over.
• Which meaning of "office": The sign described here refers to a workplace room or business office. "Office" in the sense of a position, as in "running for office" or "holding office," is a different concept and is usually expressed differently. A fluent signer can confirm the best choice for that context.

How to form the sign, step by step

• 1. Make an O handshape with each hand by curving all your fingers so their tips meet your thumb, forming a rounded opening.
• 2. Hold both hands in front of your chest at about shoulder width, palms facing each other. This position shows the two side walls of the room.
• 3. Move your hands into a new position, one closer to your body and one farther away, palms now facing toward you. This position shows the front and back walls.
• 4. Keep the movement small and controlled. You are outlining a compact box in the space in front of you, not tracing a large shape.

Some signers start with the front-and-back position and finish with the sides, or make other small adjustments to the movement. If a teacher or the Deaf people you work with use a different version, follow theirs. Local usage takes priority over any written description.

How it differs from ROOM and BOX

Sign | Typical handshape | What sets it apart

OFFICE | O handshape on both hands | The O marks the meaning "office"

ROOM | Often flat hands, or R handshapes in an initialized form | Same box outline, with no O

BOX | Flat hands | Outlines a container, often smaller in scale

The handshapes in this table are commonly taught forms. Variation exists for each of these signs as well, so confirm them with the same sources you use for OFFICE.

Checking that you have it right

Written descriptions cannot fully show movement, so you need a visual check. Watch the sign in a reputable ASL video dictionary. Then record yourself, or watch yourself in a mirror, and compare the following points:

• Handshape: Both hands form a clear, rounded O and do not drift into a flat or bent shape.
• Palm direction: Your palms face each other in one position and face toward you in the other.
• Size and location: The box stays compact and sits in front of your chest.

Comparing against a video confirms that your sign matches that source. It cannot tell you whether that version is the one used in your workplace or region. For that, ask a fluent signer or the Deaf colleagues you will be communicating with.