How to Sign "Tell" and "Told" in American Sign Language

The short answer

In American Sign Language (ASL), TELL is usually signed with the index finger. It starts near the chin or lips and moves outward toward the person being told. "Told" usually uses the same sign. ASL does not normally add a past-tense ending to verbs. Instead, the time is shown with a separate time sign or with context.

"Sign language" is not one universal language. This guide covers ASL, which is used in the United States. British Sign Language, Auslan, Russian Sign Language and other sign languages have their own signs for "tell," so the description below will not carry over to them.

How to sign TELL step by step

• 1. Use your dominant hand and extend the index finger, with the other fingers curled in.
• 2. Place the tip of the index finger near your chin or lips. This is where the sign begins.
• 3. Move the hand outward and away from your mouth, toward the person or place that represents who is being told.
• 4. Let your facial expression match the sentence, just as tone of voice would in speech.

Direction shows who is telling whom

TELL is a directional verb in ASL. The direction of the movement shows who is doing the telling and who receives it, so you often do not need separate signs for "I," "you" or "me."

• I tell you: start at your own chin and move toward the person you are talking to.
• You tell me: start out toward the other person and move back toward yourself.
• Tell him, her or them: move toward the spot in your signing space where you have already placed that person.

This is why phrases like "tell you" or "told me" can be a single directed movement. Signing TELL in a fixed direction and then adding a separate pronoun sign is understandable, but it is less natural.

How to express "told"

ASL generally marks time separately from the verb. To say "told," sign TELL in the right direction and make the past time clear in one of these ways:

• Add a time sign such as YESTERDAY, BEFORE or PAST, usually near the start of the sentence.
• Use the sign FINISH to show that the telling has already happened.
• Rely on context when the time frame is already established in the conversation.

Don't mix up TELL and SAY

TELL and SAY both start near the mouth with the index finger, and they are easy to confuse. SAY generally uses a smaller movement near the mouth and is not aimed at a recipient. TELL travels outward toward the person being told. If your sentence has a clear recipient, TELL is the usual choice.

Check your signing on camera

Recording yourself is a practical way to check your handshape, start point and direction. The aim is to confirm that the sign is clearly visible, which is different from simply confirming that the camera turns on.

• Frame yourself from the top of your head to about your waist so your hands stay in view as they move away from your chin.
• Use even lighting in front of you so your face and fingers are not in shadow.
• Choose a plain physical background that contrasts with your skin and clothing. Virtual backgrounds and blur effects can sometimes clip or smear moving hands, so test them before relying on them.
• Watch the recording and check that the sign clearly starts at the chin and moves toward the intended recipient.

Limitations of this guide

A written description cannot fully show movement, speed or facial grammar. Regional and personal variations exist, and this guide is not based on tested sources or video references. Before using the sign in important conversations, confirm it against a reputable ASL video dictionary or with a Deaf ASL instructor.