How to Sign "Read Lips" in Sign Language

The short answer

In American Sign Language (ASL), "lipread" is usually signed as one sign rather than as "read" plus "lips." Use a bent V handshape: extend your index and middle fingers, then bend them slightly. Point the fingertips toward your mouth and make a small circular movement in front of your lips. The bent V is linked to looking and reading, and the location shows what is being read.

This guide was written without a verified dictionary source or reference video. Treat the description as a common form, and check it against a video from a reputable ASL dictionary or with a Deaf signer before you rely on it.

Which sign language do you mean?

There is no single universal sign language. ASL is used in the US and parts of Canada. British Sign Language, Russian Sign Language and many others are separate languages with their own vocabularies. The sign for "lipread" can differ between them, and it can also vary by region or community within the same language. If you need the sign in a language other than ASL, this guide does not cover it. Ask a fluent signer of that language or use a dictionary made for it.

Step by step: signing "lipread" in ASL

• 1. Use your dominant hand.
• 2. Make a V with your index and middle fingers, then bend both fingers at the knuckles.
• 3. Bring the hand up in front of your face so the bent fingertips point toward your mouth.
• 4. Move the hand in a small circle in front of your lips. Do not touch your face.
• 5. Keep your mouth relaxed and visible. Don't cover it with your hand.

To check your sign, compare it with a reference video. Look at three things: the handshape (bent V, not straight), the location (in front of the mouth, not the eyes) and the movement (a small circle). If any of these differ from the reference, adjust that part.

Asking "Do you lipread?"

In ASL, a yes/no question is marked mainly by your face. Sign YOU (point at the person) and then LIPREAD, with your eyebrows raised and your head tilted slightly forward. Without the raised eyebrows, the same signs can read as a statement ("you lipread") rather than a question.

Lipreading and speechreading

You may also see the term "speechreading." It means understanding speech by watching the lips together with facial expression, gestures and context. Many speech sounds look the same, or almost the same, on the lips. For this reason, lipreading alone is often unreliable. Do not assume a Deaf or hard-of-hearing person lipreads, or that they would prefer it. Asking, as shown above, is the respectful approach.

Showing the sign clearly on a video call

The camera has to show your hands, face and mouth together, because this sign is made in front of the mouth. A camera that turns on does not guarantee that the other person can read your signing. That also depends on framing, lighting and the video quality of the call.

• Frame from roughly the top of your head to your waist, so your hand stays in view near your face.
• Put the main light in front of you, not behind you. A bright window behind you can turn your face and hands into a silhouette.
• A plain physical background that contrasts with your skin and clothing makes handshapes easier to see.
• Virtual backgrounds and blur effects can cut off or smear moving hands at the edges. Turn them off, or test them first, before signing.
• Use the call app's self-view or a short test recording to confirm the bent fingers and the circular movement are visible.

What this guide cannot confirm

No verified source material was supplied, so this guide has not been checked against an official ASL dictionary, and it does not describe the sign in other sign languages. For learning or professional use, confirm the sign with a qualified ASL instructor, a Deaf community member or a reputable video dictionary.