Yet in sign language

The short answer

No single sign covers every use of the English word “yet.” In American Sign Language (ASL), you choose the sign by meaning. Most people searching for “yet” mean “not yet,” and ASL has a well-known sign for that, usually glossed NOT-YET. When “yet” means “but” or “however,” signers usually use the sign BUT. In questions like “Have you eaten yet?”, ASL often uses no separate “yet” sign at all. Instead, the sign FINISH marks the action as completed.

Sign languages are not universal. ASL, British Sign Language and Russian Sign Language are separate languages with different vocabularies, and signs can also vary by region within one language. This guide covers ASL only. No source-verified material was supplied for it, so treat the descriptions below as general guidance. Confirm them with a Deaf signer, a qualified ASL teacher or a reputable ASL video dictionary, especially if you need a sign language other than ASL.

Match the meaning before you sign

Meaning of “yet” | Example sentence | Usual ASL approach

Not so far / not until now | “I haven’t eaten yet.” | NOT-YET

But / however | “It’s small, yet powerful.” | BUT

Asking whether something has happened | “Have you eaten yet?” | FINISH used as a question, with raised eyebrows

How to sign NOT YET

• 1. Use your dominant hand, held open and flat with the fingers together.
• 2. Place it beside your body at about waist or hip height, palm facing backward.
• 3. Bend the hand backward at the wrist with a small movement, usually repeated once or twice.
• 4. Add the facial expression at the same time. Shake your head slightly, and let the tip of your tongue show between your teeth or rest on your lower lip, as many signers do.

The facial expression is part of the sign, not decoration. The hand movement for NOT-YET closely resembles the sign LATE, and the negative expression is what tells the viewer you mean “not yet.”

How to sign BUT

• 1. Hold up both index fingers in front of your chest with the palms facing outward.
• 2. Cross the fingers slightly, one over the other.
• 3. Pull them apart to the sides in one short movement.

Check that you have it right

• Compare your sign with a video from a reputable ASL dictionary, not just a written description.
• Remember that a signer facing you in a video appears mirrored. If they use their right hand, you copy with your right hand, not the hand on the same side of the screen.
• If you are left-handed, use your left hand as the dominant hand.
• Record yourself and check that your facial expression is visible and happens together with the hand movement.
• When possible, ask a Deaf signer or ASL teacher to watch. They can catch regional differences and small handshape errors that a video comparison may miss.

Signing it on a video call

NOT-YET is made beside the hip, which is often below a typical webcam frame. If your camera shows only your head and shoulders, the other person may see the headshake but not the hand. Three separate things have to work for the sign to come through:

• Camera access: the browser or app has permission to use the camera.
• Video capture: the frame shows what the viewer needs to see.
• Call quality: the connection is good enough that the movement arrives without freezing or heavy blur.

• Sit farther back or lower the camera so the frame runs from above your head to below your waist.
• Light your face from the front so the facial expression is readable.
• Use a plain physical background that contrasts with your skin and clothing.
• Test any virtual background or blur effect before relying on it, because these effects can cut off or smear moving hands.
• Check the self-view preview, keeping in mind that many apps mirror your self-view while other people see you unmirrored.
• If video stutters during fast movement, close other bandwidth-heavy apps or move closer to your router. A permission prompt that works does not guarantee smooth motion.