How to Sign "Weak" in American Sign Language

The short answer

In American Sign Language (ASL), the common sign for "weak" uses both hands. Your non-dominant hand is held flat, palm up. The fingertips of your dominant hand rest on that palm with the fingers spread, and then the fingers buckle or bend, as if a pair of legs were giving way under a load. Many signers repeat the bending motion once or twice.

Two points can change this answer. First, sign languages are not universal: British Sign Language, Auslan and other sign languages have their own signs, so this description applies to ASL, the sign language most widely used in the US. Second, English uses "weak" for several unrelated ideas, and ASL does not always use the same sign for all of them. The sign described here fits the general sense of lacking strength or power.

Step-by-step: forming the sign

• Hold your non-dominant hand in front of your body at about chest height, flat and palm up, like a small table.
• Shape your dominant hand with the fingers spread and slightly curved, fingertips pointing down.
• Place the fingertips of your dominant hand on the palm of your non-dominant hand.
• Let the fingers of your dominant hand bend at the knuckles so the hand sinks slightly toward the palm, like knees buckling.
• Straighten the fingers and repeat the bending motion once or twice in a relaxed rhythm.

Facial expression matters

In ASL, facial expression is part of the grammar, not decoration. A tired or drained expression, sometimes with slightly lowered eyebrows or sagging posture, supports the meaning of "weak." Signers often show degree through the face and the size or speed of the movement, so a slow, heavy, exaggerated buckle can suggest "very weak," while a small, quick movement reads as a milder statement.

How to check that you are signing it correctly

A practical self-check is to watch yourself in a mirror or record a short clip with your phone or webcam and compare it with a video from a reputable ASL dictionary. Look for these signs that your form is on track:

• The non-dominant hand stays steady and palm up throughout.
• The dominant fingertips touch the palm rather than hovering above it.
• The movement comes from the fingers bending, not from the whole arm dropping.
• Your facial expression matches the meaning rather than staying neutral or smiling.

This kind of check shows whether your handshape and movement resemble a reference video. It does not confirm that the sign is the preferred one in your local Deaf community or that it fits the specific context you have in mind. Feedback from a Deaf signer or a qualified ASL instructor is the most reliable way to confirm both.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Holding the non-dominant hand palm down, which removes the "surface" the fingers collapse onto.
• Using a closed fist or bent single finger instead of spread fingers on the dominant hand.
• Making the motion too stiff, so it looks like tapping rather than buckling.
• Confusing "weak" with the sign for "strong," which uses a different handshape and movement on the arm.

When a different sign may be needed

Because English stretches "weak" across many meanings, check before using this sign for phrases such as a weak argument, weak coffee, a weak signal or a weak spot in a plan. In those cases, ASL signers may choose a different sign or describe the idea another way. No supplied source confirmed specific alternatives for these phrases, so it is best to look each one up separately or ask a fluent signer rather than assume the physical-strength sign carries over.

Limits of this guide

This description reflects the commonly taught ASL form of "weak," but no specific evidence source was supplied for this article. Regional variants exist within ASL, and written descriptions cannot fully capture movement, rhythm and facial grammar. Use this guide as a starting point and confirm the sign with a video reference or a Deaf signer before relying on it in important conversations.