Personal pronouns in sign language

The short answer

In American Sign Language (ASL), most personal pronouns are made by pointing. To sign "you," you point your index finger at the person you are addressing. To sign "your," you use a flat open hand with the palm facing that person and move it slightly toward them. ASL pronouns show who or what you mean by where you direct your hand, not by separate words for gender. One important condition: this describes ASL as commonly used in the US. Other sign languages have their own pronoun systems, and regional and personal variation exists within ASL too.

A note on sources: no verified reference material was supplied for this guide. The descriptions below reflect widely taught features of ASL. Check them against a qualified ASL instructor, a Deaf community resource, or a reputable ASL dictionary before relying on them.

How ASL pronouns differ from English pronouns

English uses different words for gender, case and number: he, she, it, him, her, they, them. ASL does most of this with location and handshape. A pointing index finger is the basic personal pronoun. A flat palm shows possession. A thumbs-up handshape directed at someone shows the reflexive form. The direction of the hand tells the viewer who is meant.

Because of this, ASL has no separate signs for "he," "she" and "it." A single point at a person, an object, or a spot in space that stands for someone covers all three. Gender is made clear by context or by naming or describing the person, not by the pronoun.

Common pronouns at a glance

English | Typical ASL form | What sets it apart

I / me | Index finger points to your own chest | Points to the signer

you | Index finger points at the person addressed | Points to the addressee

your / yours | Flat open hand, palm toward the addressee, moved slightly forward | Palm instead of index finger marks possession

he / she / it | Index finger points at the person or thing, or at the spot in space set up for them | Same form for all three; no gender marking

his / her / its | Flat palm directed toward that person, thing or spot | Possessive version of the point

we / us | Index finger touches one side of your chest, then arcs to the other side | One sign covers both "we" and "us"

our | Slightly cupped hand at one side of your chest, arcing to the other side | Possessive form of we

they / them | Index finger sweeps across the people or the spots set up for them | A sweeping point shows plurality

you (plural) | Index finger sweeps across the group being addressed | A sweep toward the addressees

yourself | Thumbs-up handshape, knuckles directed toward the addressee | Reflexive form

Pointing to people who aren't present

If the person or thing you mean is in the room, you point at them. If not, signers commonly set up a location in the space in front of them, often to one side, by naming the person and then pointing to that spot. After that, pointing to the same spot means "he," "she" or "it" for that referent. Pointing to a different spot means someone else. This is how ASL keeps track of several third-person referents without gendered words.

Number and inclusion

ASL can include number in some pronouns. For example, a handshape showing two fingers can move between the signer and another person to mean "the two of us" or between two others to mean "the two of them." Exact forms and how many people can be shown this way vary. A teacher or dictionary can confirm the forms used in your area.

What this means on a webcam call

Because ASL pronouns depend on direction and location, a video call changes how they come across. On a call, pointing toward the camera reads as "you" to the person watching. Spots you set up to your left and right only work if the camera shows that space.

• Frame from at least the top of your head to your mid-torso, with room on both sides, so pointing to the chest and to spots on either side stays visible.
• Sit far enough from the camera that your hands do not leave the frame when you point outward or sweep for "they" or "you all."
• Keep the background plain and the lighting even and in front of you, so handshapes such as a flat palm and a pointing finger are easy to tell apart.
• In group calls, pointing at the camera may not show which participant you mean. Name the person or set up a spot for them first.

The webcam microphone carries none of this. Signed pronouns are entirely visual, so audio settings do not affect them. Audio matters only when a voice interpreter or hearing participant is speaking. In that case, the usual steps apply: pick the correct input device in your conferencing app and keep background noise low. No specific microphone or camera performance data was available for this guide, so no equipment recommendations are made.

Gaps in this guide

This overview covers ASL only and gives no verified citations, regional variants or video demonstrations. Text cannot fully show handshape, palm orientation and movement. Watch a fluent signer, ideally a Deaf ASL user or certified instructor, to confirm each form before using it in conversation.