How to Sign Talk to Me

The short answer

In American Sign Language (ASL), the most literal way to sign “talk to me” is to sign TALK and then point to yourself for ME. Another common option is a single sign often glossed as TELL-ME. Your index finger starts at your chin and moves out, then curves back so the fingertip points at your chest. People often use it to mean “tell me what's going on” or “open up to me.” In both versions, your facial expression carries part of the meaning, so how you look while signing matters as much as your hands.

Points that change the meaning

• Which sign language: this guide covers ASL, the sign language most widely used in the United States. Other sign languages, such as British Sign Language, use different signs. Don't assume an ASL sign will be understood elsewhere.
• Which sense of “talk to me”: if you want to invite a conversation or ask someone to share what's bothering them, TELL-ME with a warm, questioning expression usually fits. If you simply mean “communicate with me,” TALK plus ME is the literal phrasing.
• TALK and voice: when you sign TALK to a Deaf person, you are asking them to communicate with you, not asking them to speak out loud.

How to sign TALK + ME

• 1. Use your dominant hand, which is usually your writing hand.
• 2. Make a “4” handshape: four fingers straight and slightly spread, with the thumb folded against the palm.
• 3. Place the index-finger side of your hand against your chin, with your palm facing sideways.
• 4. Move your hand forward a short distance, away from your mouth. Many signers repeat this small movement twice. A common variant uses only the extended index finger instead of the “4” hand.
• 5. For ME, point your index finger at the center of your chest.

How to sign TELL-ME

• 1. Extend the index finger of your dominant hand and touch it to your chin or just below your lips.
• 2. Move your hand forward and curve it back so the fingertip ends up pointing at your chest.
• 3. Make it one smooth motion. The direction of the movement, from your mouth back toward you, is what adds “me.” You don't need a separate ME sign.

Add the right facial expression

ASL uses facial expression and head movement as grammar, not decoration. To make “talk to me” a gentle invitation, use an open, attentive face with slightly raised eyebrows, the way you would look when asking someone a caring question. If you mean “what's wrong? talk to me,” slightly drawn-together brows show concern. A blank face can make the request seem flat or unclear.

How to check that you're signing it clearly

• Watch yourself in a mirror, or record a short clip on your phone's front camera. Keep in mind that a mirror and some front cameras flip the image left to right.
• Check that your hand starts at your chin, not at your cheek or forehead.
• For TALK, check that the movement goes outward, away from you. For TELL-ME, check that it ends with your fingertip clearly pointing at your chest.
• Check that your hand is easy to see. It shouldn't be cut off at the edge of the frame or blend into a busy background behind you.
• Check that your expression matches what you mean, whether that's an invitation or concern.

A self-check like this confirms that your handshape, location and movement roughly match the description. It cannot tell you whether a fluent signer would read the sign as natural, or whether your local Deaf community prefers a different variant.

Limits of a written description

Text can't fully show speed, rhythm or the exact path of a movement, and ASL signs vary by region, age group and community. The descriptions here reflect general, widely taught forms. No specific dictionary entry or video source was supplied to confirm them. Before you rely on either version in an important conversation, compare it with a video in a reputable ASL dictionary, or ask a Deaf signer or a qualified ASL instructor to watch you sign it.