How to Sign "Truth" in American Sign Language

The short answer

In American Sign Language (ASL), "truth" is commonly signed with the same sign as TRUE. Extend the index finger of your dominant hand and point it upward. Touch the side of the finger to your chin, just below your lips, then move it straight forward and away from your mouth. The idea is that the words coming from your mouth are straight and true.

This guide covers ASL, the sign language most widely used in the United States. Other sign languages, such as British Sign Language, are separate languages with their own vocabulary. The ASL sign may not mean "truth" in them, and this guide does not describe their signs.

Step by step

• 1. Handshape: Make a loose fist with your dominant hand and extend only the index finger. ASL learners call this the "1" handshape.
• 2. Orientation: Hold the finger upright. Your palm faces to the side, toward your non-dominant side.
• 3. Starting point: Bring the side of the index finger to your chin, just under your lower lip.
• 4. Movement: Move the hand forward in a short, firm, straight line away from your mouth. Do not wiggle the finger or bend the wrist.
• 5. Facial expression: Keep a sincere, neutral-to-earnest expression. In ASL, facial expression is part of the grammar.

How to tell if you did it right

• The finger starts at or just below the lips, not at the nose or cheek.
• Only one finger is extended, and it stays upright through the movement.
• The path is a single straight movement forward, not a circle, tap or repeated motion.
• Your face matches what you mean: a calm statement looks different from a surprised question.

A written description cannot confirm small details of your form. The most reliable check is feedback from a fluent signer, ideally a Deaf ASL teacher or native signer. Video references from Deaf-led ASL dictionaries or courses are another option.

Related meanings and look-alike signs

The same movement is also used for meanings like TRUE, REAL, REALLY, SURE and ACTUALLY. Context and facial expression tell the viewer which one you mean. For example, raised eyebrows with a slight lean can turn the sign into a question like "Really?" or "Is that true?"

HONEST is a separate sign. Do not substitute TRUTH when you specifically mean honesty as a personal quality.

Limits of this guide

No source material was supplied for this article, so the description above reflects common teaching of this ASL sign rather than a cited reference. ASL also varies by region, community and generation, so you may see signers start lower on the chin or use a slightly different movement. If you need the sign for a specific setting, confirm it with a qualified ASL instructor or interpreter. That includes formal interpreting, legal or medical contexts, and use with a particular Deaf community.