Questions in Sign Language: How to Ask Them in ASL

In American Sign Language (ASL), a question is marked mainly by your face, not just your hands. You can sign a question word such as WHAT or WHERE, but your eyebrows, head position and eye contact tell the other person whether you are asking something and what kind of answer you expect. This guide covers the two main question types, the common question words, and how to keep those signals visible on a video call.

Which sign language this guide covers

There is no single universal sign language. ASL is used widely in the United States and parts of Canada. British Sign Language, Russian Sign Language and many others have their own question words and grammar. This guide describes ASL. If you need another sign language, the general idea that facial expression marks a question often still applies, but the individual signs may differ. Check with a course or a fluent signer for that language.

The short answer: two kinds of questions, two facial expressions

• Yes/no questions: Raise your eyebrows, widen your eyes slightly, and tilt your head and shoulders a little forward toward the person. Hold that expression through the whole question, often keeping the last sign in place briefly. Example meaning: "Are you ready?"
• Wh-questions (who, what, when, where, why, which, how): Lower or furrow your eyebrows, and tilt your head slightly forward or to one side. Keep this expression throughout the question. Example meaning: "Where do you work?"

The eyebrows matter because they change the meaning. If you sign a wh-word with raised eyebrows, it can come across as a different kind of sentence. For example, it might read as a rhetorical question, which is explained below. If you sign a statement without the question expression, it may read as a plain statement even if you meant to ask something.

Common question words in ASL

The descriptions below are written summaries of widely taught forms. Written descriptions cannot show exact movement, and regional and personal variants are common. Use them as a starting point, and confirm each sign with video from a Deaf instructor or a reputable ASL dictionary.

• WHO: Index finger at or near the chin, making a small circular or bending movement. A common variant places the thumb on the chin and wiggles the index finger.
• WHAT: Both hands open with palms up, shaking slightly side to side. Another variant brushes the tip of the index finger down across the other open palm.
• WHERE: Index finger pointing up, palm facing out, shaken side to side.
• WHEN: One index finger circles above the other index finger, then touches its tip.
• WHY: Fingertips touch the forehead, then pull away into a Y handshape (thumb and pinky extended). Another variant wiggles a bent middle finger near the forehead.
• HOW: Both hands bent with the backs of the fingers together, then rolled forward and up so the palms face up.
• WHICH: Both hands in fists with thumbs up, moving alternately up and down.
• HOW-MANY / HOW-MUCH: A fist with palm facing up, opened upward with a quick flick of the fingers.

Where the question word goes in the sentence

In ASL, the wh-word often comes at the end of the question, for example in a glossed form like YOUR NAME WHAT? Glossing means writing signs as English words in capitals. Signers also place the wh-word at the beginning, or at both the beginning and the end, to emphasize it. The wh-question expression should stay on your face throughout, not only during the question word.

Rhetorical questions

ASL also uses rhetorical questions. The signer asks a question and answers it right away, without expecting a reply. These usually combine a wh-word with raised eyebrows, which is different from a true wh-question. The answer follows immediately. For example, in glossed form: I LATE, WHY? TRAIN BROKE. The meaning is "I was late because the train broke down." Mixing up the eyebrow positions is a common reason a learner's question is misread as a statement, or the reverse.

The "question mark" sign

Some signers trace a question mark in the air with a hooked index finger, or flick a bent index finger forward, at the end of a question. This can add emphasis or ask someone to repeat or clarify something. It does not replace the facial expression, which remains the main grammatical marker.

Asking questions in sign language on a video call

Because questions depend on eyebrows and head tilt, a camera setup that shows your hands but hides or darkens your face can make a question unreadable. A few practical checks:

• Framing: Position the camera so your face, shoulders and signing space are all in view, roughly from the top of your head to your waist. Leave room at the sides for signs that move outward.
• Lighting on your face: Light your face from the front. A bright window behind you can leave your face in shadow and hide eyebrow movement.
• Plain physical background: A plain wall that contrasts with your skin tone and clothing makes hands easier to follow. Virtual background and blur effects in calling apps can sometimes clip or smear moving hands. If you notice this, turn the effect off and use a plain physical background instead.
• Check the real picture, not just camera access: A browser or app having permission to use your camera does not guarantee a clear image. Open the self-view or a camera preview, sign a short question, and check that your eyebrows and hands are clearly visible. On a live call, the image the other person receives can still lose detail if the connection is weak. Ask them directly whether they can see you clearly.
• Pin or spotlight: In group calls, ask the host to pin or spotlight the signer, or the interpreter if one is present, so their video stays large on screen.

Limits of this guide and next steps

No source-specific evidence was supplied for this article. It does not cite dictionaries, courses or studies, and it does not cover every regional variant of each sign. Written descriptions of movement are a weak substitute for seeing signs performed. To check your signing, compare it with video from a Deaf instructor or an established ASL dictionary. If possible, record yourself asking a few yes/no and wh-questions, then check two things: that the hand movements match, and that your eyebrows clearly show which kind of question you are asking.