How to Sign "Yourself" in American Sign Language

The short answer

In American Sign Language (ASL), "yourself" is a reflexive pronoun made with a thumbs-up handshape. Make a loose fist with the thumb extended upward, turn the palm to the side so the front of your knuckles faces the person you are talking to, and move your hand a short distance toward them. Direction carries the meaning. Aimed at the person you are addressing, the sign means "yourself." Brought back to your own chest, the same handshape means "myself."

This guide covers ASL, the sign language most widely used in the US. Other sign languages, such as British Sign Language, have their own signs, so this description does not apply to them. If you meant "sign yourself" as in signing a document, that is a different task and is not covered here.

Forming the sign step by step

• 1. Handshape: Close your dominant hand into a fist and extend the thumb straight up, as in a thumbs-up. Teachers often call this the "A" or "10" handshape.
• 2. Orientation: Turn your hand so the palm faces sideways and the flat front of your knuckles points toward the person you mean.
• 3. Location: Hold your hand in front of your body at about chest height.
• 4. Movement: Move your hand a short way toward the person. Signers often repeat this small forward movement.
• 5. Gaze: Look at the person you are referring to. In ASL, eye gaze and facial expression are part of the grammar, not decoration.

How "yourself" relates to similar signs

Meaning | Handshape | Direction and movement

you | Index finger extended | Point at the person

yourself | Thumbs-up | Move toward the person you are addressing

myself | Thumbs-up | Tap your own chest

himself / herself / itself | Thumbs-up | Move toward the person or a spot you have set up to one side

yourselves / themselves | Thumbs-up | Sweep across the group or the space where they are placed

ASL pronouns do not mark gender, so "himself" and "herself" use the same sign. The reference comes from where you direct it. In English, "yourself" can be reflexive ("you hurt yourself") or emphatic ("you did it yourself"). The ASL sign is commonly used for both.

Common mistakes

• Using an extended index finger: that is the sign for "you," not "yourself."
• Pointing the thumb tip at the person, like hitchhiking: the thumb should stay upright, with the knuckles facing the person.
• Aiming in the wrong direction: a sign meant as "yourself" that drifts toward your own body can read as "myself."

Checking your form

A mirror or your device's camera preview shows the sign roughly as another person would see it. Compare your handshape, palm orientation and direction with a video from a reputable ASL dictionary or a Deaf ASL instructor. Many video apps mirror the self-view, so left and right may look flipped compared with how others see you. This check tells you whether the sign looks right. It does not tell you whether you are using it naturally in conversation. For that, you need feedback from a fluent signer.

Limitations of this guide

No source evidence was supplied for this article. The descriptions reflect the form of the sign as it is widely taught, and regional and individual variation exists. A written description cannot fully capture movement, so confirm the sign with video from a reputable ASL source before relying on it.