How to Sign "Weird" in American Sign Language

The short answer

In American Sign Language (ASL), WEIRD is commonly taught as the same sign used for STRANGE and ODD. You curve your dominant hand into a C shape and draw it in a downward arc across the front of your face, with a puzzled or skeptical facial expression. The hand passes in front of the face without touching it.

Which sign language you need changes the answer. This guide covers ASL, the sign language most widely used in the United States. British Sign Language, Auslan and other sign languages are separate languages with their own vocabulary, so this sign should not be assumed to carry over.

Step by step

• 1. Use your dominant hand (right hand if you are right-handed, left if you are left-handed).
• 2. Form a C handshape: fingers held together and curved, thumb curved opposite them, as if loosely holding a cup.
• 3. Turn the hand so the opening of the C faces sideways, toward your face, and raise it to about eye level, slightly off to your dominant side.
• 4. Move the hand in one smooth downward arc across the front of your face, finishing around chin level toward the opposite side.
• 5. Keep the C shape steady throughout the movement.
• 6. At the same time, show the meaning on your face: a wrinkled or raised brow, a slightly scrunched or doubtful expression.

How to check that you did it right

• The hand stays in a clear C shape from start to finish rather than opening flat or closing into a fist.
• The motion is a single arc that crosses in front of the face, not a straight drop or a repeated wave.
• The hand does not touch your face.
• Your facial expression matches the meaning; without it, the sign can look flat or unclear.
• If you are left-handed, the whole sign is mirrored: start on your left and arc toward your right.

Practicing in a mirror shows whether the handshape and path look right, but it cannot confirm that a fluent signer would read the sign naturally. Feedback from a Deaf signer or a qualified ASL instructor is the reliable check.

Facial expression matters

In ASL, facial expressions are part of the grammar and meaning, not decoration. These are often called non-manual markers. With WEIRD, the expression signals how strange something is and how you feel about it: mild puzzlement, amused oddness or strong disbelief. A bigger expression and a slightly more emphatic movement generally convey a stronger sense of weirdness.

If you are unsure, fingerspell it

Fingerspelling W-E-I-R-D with the ASL manual alphabet is always an understandable fallback. It is slower and less natural than the sign in casual conversation, but it removes ambiguity while you are learning.

Limitations of this guide

No source evidence was supplied for this article, so the description above reflects the form commonly taught in ASL learning materials rather than a cited dictionary entry. Signs vary by region, community and age group, and a written description cannot fully capture movement, speed or facial expression. Before relying on the sign, compare it against a video from a reputable ASL dictionary or confirm it with a Deaf signer or ASL instructor.