How to Sign “Well” in ASL: Meanings, Handshapes and How to Check Yourself on Camera

Short answer: American Sign Language (ASL) has no single sign that covers every use of the English word “well.” ASL signs carry meaning, not English spelling, so you first decide which “well” you mean and then use the sign for that idea. The most common choices are GOOD or FINE for “doing well,” HEALTHY for “feeling well,” a two-handed palms-up gesture for the hesitant “Well…,” fingerspelling for a water well, and ALSO for “as well.”

This guide covers ASL because it is the main sign language in the US. Other sign languages, such as British Sign Language or Russian Sign Language, use different signs, so the descriptions below do not carry over to them.

Pick the meaning first

English sentence | Meaning of “well” | Usual ASL approach

“I’m doing well.” / “She plays well.” | good, skillfully | GOOD, or FINE for “I’m fine”

“I don’t feel well.” / “Get well soon.” | in good health | HEALTHY / WELL (health sense)

“Well… I’m not sure.” | hesitation or discourse marker | Palms-up gesture with facial expression

“They dug a well.” | a water well | Fingerspell W-E-L-L, or describe it with context

“Bring snacks as well.” | also, too | ALSO

“Well” as in good or fine

GOOD: Hold your dominant hand flat, with the fingers together. Touch the fingertips near your chin or lips. Then move the hand down and forward, often letting it land palm-up on your other hand. This sign works for “well” in sentences like “You did well.”

FINE: Spread all five fingers, then tap or touch your thumb to the center of your chest. Signers often answer “How are you?” with FINE where an English speaker would say “I’m well.”

“Well” as in healthy

Teachers commonly use the same sign for HEALTHY and for WELL in the health sense. Place both open hands, fingers spread, against your upper chest. Move them forward and away from your body, closing them into fists as they move. A confident, upright posture fits the meaning.

“Well…” as a hesitation or filler

To open a sentence with a hesitant “Well…,” hold both hands open with the palms up and make a small outward or bouncing movement. Your face carries much of the meaning here, for example raised eyebrows, a slight shrug or a thoughtful expression. With a neutral face, the same hands can look like a plain question or “I don’t know.”

A water well: fingerspell it

When you mean a hole dug for water, fingerspelling is a safe default, especially if the topic isn’t yet clear from context. Use the ASL manual alphabet:

• W: index, middle and ring fingers up and spread, with the thumb holding down the pinky.
• E: all fingertips curled down toward the palm, resting on or above the thumb.
• L: thumb and index finger extended to form an L, other fingers closed.
• L (repeated): for a double letter, make a small bounce or a short slide to the side so the viewer sees two letters.

Some signers also describe the shape and depth of a well with their hands once the topic is known. This guide does not cover those descriptive forms.

“As well” means also

In “as well,” the word means “too,” so you use the ASL sign ALSO rather than any sign related to health or quality. Look up ALSO in a video dictionary to see the movement, because it is hard to learn accurately from a written description.

Check your signing on camera

If you are practicing for a video call or recording yourself, a self-view shows whether a viewer can actually read your hands. Keep three things separate: whether the browser or operating system lets the app use the camera, whether the camera is producing live video, and whether that video is clear enough to read signs.

• Open your camera app or the call app’s preview. If the image is blank, check the camera permission in your browser or system settings before changing anything else.
• Frame yourself from roughly the top of your head to your waist, with room on both sides. Signs like HEALTHY and GOOD start at the chest or chin and move outward.
• Light your face and hands from the front. Strong light behind you can turn your hands into silhouettes.
• Use a plain physical background that contrasts with your skin tone. Virtual background effects can blur or cut off fast-moving fingers, which hurts fingerspelling.
• Sign slowly, then watch the preview or a short recording. Check that each letter of W-E-L-L is distinct and that your facial expression is visible.

Limitations

No verified source material was supplied for this guide, so the sign descriptions above reflect commonly taught ASL forms, not checked references. Signs vary by region, community and generation, and written descriptions can’t show movement precisely. Before using a sign in an important conversation, confirm it with a Deaf signer, a qualified ASL instructor or a reputable ASL video dictionary.