How to Sign “Receive” in Sign Language

The short answer

In American Sign Language (ASL), “receive” is commonly signed the same way as, or very close to, the sign for GET. You bring both hands toward your body while closing them into fists. This guide gives that commonly taught form. No verified source material was supplied for this article, so check the sign against a reputable ASL video dictionary or a fluent signer before you rely on it.

Two things that can change the answer

• Which sign language you mean. Sign languages are not universal. ASL is the main sign language in the US, but British, Russian and other national sign languages use different signs. If you came here from a Russian-language search, Russian Sign Language (RSL) may be what you need, and this guide does not cover its sign for “receive.”
• What “receive” means in your sentence. Receiving a package, a phone call, a message or an award may be signed differently. ASL often expresses meaning through context and through movement direction rather than one word-for-word sign. The form below fits the general meaning of getting or accepting something.

Step by step: the commonly taught ASL form

• 1. Hold both hands in front of your body at about chest height, a little away from you. Your dominant hand (the one you write with) goes slightly above your other hand.
• 2. Start with your hands open and fingers loosely curved, as if about to grab something.
• 3. Move both hands back toward your chest and close them into fists as they move.
• 4. Finish with your dominant fist resting on top of your other fist, close to your body.
• 5. If you are left-handed, swap the roles so your left hand is on top.

Some signers use a variant, such as a one-handed version. That does not automatically mean they are wrong. Regional and personal variation is normal in ASL.

Check the sign on camera

Recording yourself is a simple way to compare your signing with a reference video. It is also a useful test if you plan to sign on video calls. A camera can be allowed by your browser or system and still show your hands poorly. Permission alone does not mean your signing is clear to the other person.

• Framing: keep your head, shoulders and the space in front of your chest in view. The movement in this sign ends close to your body, so leave room below your chin.
• Lighting: light your face and hands from the front. A bright window behind you can turn your hands into silhouettes.
• Background: a plain physical background that contrasts with your skin and clothing makes handshapes easier to read. Virtual call backgrounds and blur effects can sometimes clip or smear moving hands, so test with them turned off.
• Mirroring: many video apps show you a mirrored self-view, while the other person sees you unmirrored. If your hands look reversed compared with a reference video, check whether your preview is mirrored before you change your signing.
• Playback: record a short clip and watch it back. Check that the starting open hands, the closing movement and the final stacked fists are all clearly visible.

What this guide could not confirm

No source evidence was available to verify this specific sign or its variants. The description above reflects how the sign is commonly taught, not a checked reference. For accurate use, especially in work, school or interpreting settings, confirm it with a recognized ASL dictionary or a Deaf or fluent ASL instructor. If you need a sign language other than ASL, look for resources in that specific language.