You're sitting at a crowded table, the smell of roasted turkey is heavy in the air, and someone across from you is Deaf or hard of hearing. You want to be polite. You want to show you care. So, you try to sign "Happy Thanksgiving." Most people just sort of wave their hands around or try to spell it out letter by letter, which—honestly—is a bit of a disaster.
Signing happy thanksgiving in asl isn't just about moving your fingers. It’s about the flow. It’s about the face. If you look like you’re smelling something sour while signing "Happy," you aren’t actually saying "Happy." You’re saying something else entirely.
American Sign Language (ASL) is a visual-spatial language with its own complex grammar. It isn't just "English on the hands." When we talk about holiday greetings, the nuance matters. Whether you’re a beginner or someone who just wants to be inclusive this November, getting the mechanics right makes a massive difference in how your message is received.
The Mechanics of the Greeting
Let’s break down the actual physical movements. To sign happy thanksgiving in asl, you’re combining two distinct signs.
First, there's "Happy." You take your open palms, keep your fingers together, and brush them upward against your chest. It’s a lifting motion. Think of it as your spirits rising. You don't need to do it ten times; twice is usually plenty.
Then comes "Thanksgiving." Now, this is where it gets interesting. There are actually a few variations depending on where you are in the U.S. or Canada. The most common version involves taking both hands—fingertips touching your chin or lips—and moving them forward and down in an arching motion toward the person you’re talking to. It’s basically a double-handed version of the sign for "Thank you."
Wait, why two hands?
Using two hands adds emphasis. It makes it "big thanks." It makes it a holiday. If you only use one hand, you’re just saying "Thanks." Doing it with both hands signals that this is the formal occasion.
Why Facial Expressions Aren't Optional
If you do the signs with a blank, robotic face, you look weird. In ASL, your face is your tone of voice. Imagine someone saying "I'm so happy for you" in a flat, monotone voice while staring at the floor. You wouldn't believe them.
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When signing happy thanksgiving in asl, your eyes should brighten. You should actually look... well, thankful. Non-manual markers (NMMs) are what linguists call these facial expressions, and they are baked into the syntax of the language. Without them, you’re basically whispering in a loud room.
Regional Dialects and "The Turkey Sign"
One thing most hearing people don't realize is that ASL has accents and regional slang just like spoken English. A signer in New York might look a little different than a signer in California.
Some people add the sign for "Turkey" into the mix. To sign turkey, you take your "Q" handshape (your thumb and index finger pointing down like a little claw) and wiggle it under your chin. It mimics the wattle of a turkey.
Is it necessary for the greeting? Not really.
In fact, most native signers find it a bit redundant. You wouldn't say "Happy Turkey Thanksgiving" out loud, right? Stick to the traditional "Happy" + "Thanksgiving" unless you’re specifically joking around or talking to a child.
The Evolution of the Sign
Language isn't static. Dr. Bill Vicars, a well-known ASL expert and founder of ASL University, often points out how signs simplify over generations. Years ago, you might have seen more formal versions of "thanks" that started closer to the chest, but modern ASL is efficient. It’s fast. It’s fluid.
If you watch videos of Gallaudet University students—Gallaudet being the world's only university designed for Deaf and hard of hearing students—you'll see the sign is crisp and quick. They aren't over-exaggerating the "arch" of the hands. It’s a natural, comfortable movement.
Common Mistakes Beginners Make
Stop over-extending your arms. You aren't trying to touch the person across the room. Keep your signs within the "signing space," which is basically the box from the top of your head to your waist and just past your shoulders.
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Another big one? Mixing up "Happy" and "Enjoy."
"Enjoy" uses a similar circular motion on the chest and stomach. If you get messy with your hand placement, you might be telling someone to "Enjoy Thanksgiving" in a way that feels a bit clunky.
And for the love of all things holy, don't fingerspell "T-H-A-N-K-S-G-I-V-I-N-G." It takes forever. It’s exhausting to watch. By the time you get to the "G," the person you're talking to has already moved on to the mashed potatoes. Use the sign.
Cultural Etiquette at the Table
If you’re at a dinner with Deaf guests, remember that eye contact is everything. In the hearing world, we talk while looking at our plates or scrolling through our phones. In the Deaf community, if you aren't looking at the person, you aren't listening.
If you want to say happy thanksgiving in asl, make sure you have their attention first. A light tap on the shoulder or a small wave in their line of sight is the polite way to "call their name." Once they're looking, then you drop the sign.
Beyond the Greeting: More Helpful Signs
If you really want to be the MVP of the holiday, don't stop at "Happy Thanksgiving." You’re going to need to talk about the food.
- Turkey: As mentioned, the "Q" hand wiggling under the chin.
- Mashed Potatoes: A closed fist (your "potato") being poked by the "V" handshape (your "fork").
- Full: This one is vital. Take your flat hand, palm down, and bring it up to your chin. It literally shows the food level reaching the top. Use this when your Aunt tries to give you a third slice of pumpkin pie.
The Importance of Inclusion
According to the World Federation of the Deaf, there are over 70 million Deaf people worldwide using more than 300 different sign languages. ASL is just one of them. In the U.S., it is the third or fourth most used "foreign" language, depending on which study you look at.
By learning to sign happy thanksgiving in asl, you’re doing more than just being "politically correct." You’re acknowledging someone’s primary mode of communication. It’s a bridge.
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I've seen it happen dozens of times: a Deaf family member sitting quietly while the hearing relatives blabber away at 100 miles per hour. When someone takes the time to sign a greeting correctly, the entire energy shifts. The isolation cracks a little bit.
The Best Way to Practice
Don't just read about it. Your brain needs muscle memory.
- Mirror work: Stand in front of your bathroom mirror. Sign "Happy" and "Thanksgiving." Watch your hands. Are they symmetrical? Is your face expressive?
- Record yourself: Use your phone. Play it back. Compare it to native signers on sites like Handspeak or Lifeprint.
- Slow it down: Speed comes with time. For now, focus on the "handshape" (what your hand looks like), "location" (where your hand is), and "movement" (where it goes).
Honestly, even if your sign is a little "accented" or clumsy, the effort is usually appreciated. The Deaf community is generally very patient with learners who are genuinely trying. It’s the "trying" part that matters.
What About "Merry Christmas"?
Since we're in the holiday season, you might be tempted to use the same "Happy" sign for everything. For Christmas, you usually see the "C" handshape moving in an arc, or the sign for "Jesus" (middle fingers touching the opposite palms). But let's stay focused on the harvest for now. One holiday at a time.
Actionable Steps for Your Thanksgiving
Don't wait until the turkey is on the table to figure this out.
First, go to a reputable site like Lifeprint (run by Dr. Bill Vicars) or Handspeak (run by Jolanta Lapiak). These are the gold standards for ASL dictionary resources. Look up the video for "Thanksgiving." Watch it ten times.
Second, pay attention to the "double arch" movement. Ensure your hands are moving outward, away from your face.
Third, if you have a Deaf guest coming over, learn one or two "follow-up" signs. "Food good" is an easy one. "Want drink?" is another.
Finally, remember that communication is a two-way street. If you sign happy thanksgiving in asl and they sign something back that you don't understand, don't just nod and smile. That’s "pity nodding," and it’s pretty obvious. It’s okay to sign "Slow" (slide your dominant hand slowly up your non-dominant forearm) or "Again" (bent hand into the palm of the other).
Real connection happens when you’re willing to be a little bit bad at a language until you're good at it. This Thanksgiving, skip the awkward wave and use the real sign. It’s a small gesture, but in the world of ASL, small gestures speak the loudest.