How to Sign "Uncle" in American Sign Language

The short answer

In American Sign Language (ASL), UNCLE is commonly signed with a "U" handshape held near the side of your forehead, by the temple, with a small shaking or twisting movement of the wrist. The "U" handshape means your index and middle fingers are extended and pressed together, pointing up, while your other fingers and thumb are folded down.

This applies to ASL, the sign language used by most Deaf communities in the United States and English-speaking Canada. Other sign languages, such as British Sign Language or Auslan, are separate languages with their own signs for family members. This guide does not cover those, so check a source specific to the sign language you need.

Step by step

• 1. Use your dominant hand, the one you write with.
• 2. Form the letter U: extend your index and middle fingers together, keep them touching, and fold your ring finger and pinky under your thumb.
• 3. Raise your hand to the side of your head, near your temple, just beside the forehead. Your fingertips point up or slightly forward.
• 4. Keep your hand close to your head without pressing hard against it.
• 5. Make a small, relaxed movement: either a quick shake or a short back-and-forth twist from the wrist, repeated a couple of times.

How to check that you are doing it correctly

Like most signs, UNCLE depends on three parts: handshape, location and movement. Changing any of them can turn it into a different sign or make it hard to read. A mirror helps you check each part.

Part | What to look for | Common mistake

Handshape | Two fingers, index and middle, extended and touching | Fingers spread apart, which looks like the letter V

Location | Beside the forehead at the temple | Hand placed at the chin or jaw, which is the area used for female relatives

Movement | Small, repeated shake or twist from the wrist | A large swing of the whole arm, or holding the hand completely still

How UNCLE relates to AUNT and other family signs

Many ASL family signs follow a pattern: signs for male relatives are made near the forehead, and signs for female relatives are made near the chin or jaw. AUNT uses an "A" handshape (a closed fist with the thumb resting along the side) near the cheek or jaw, with a similar shaking or twisting movement. Remembering forehead for male and chin for female helps you avoid mixing the two.

Variations and limitations

• Movement varies: some signers shake the hand, others make a small circle or twist. These are generally understood as the same sign.
• Regional and family variants exist, as they do with spoken-language vocabulary. A Deaf family or local community may use a form that differs from the one described here.
• A specific uncle may have a name sign, a personal sign used in place of spelling out his name. Name signs are typically given by members of the Deaf community, not chosen by learners.
• If you are unsure whether someone will recognize your sign, you can fingerspell U-N-C-L-E as a backup.

No source-specific evidence was supplied for this guide, so the description above reflects the commonly taught ASL form. Written descriptions cannot fully show movement, so compare your sign against a video from a reputable ASL dictionary or confirm it with a Deaf signer or qualified ASL instructor, especially if you will use it with a particular family or community.