You're standing in a group. You want to say "we" in American Sign Language (ASL). It sounds simple, right? Honestly, most people just wing it and end up looking like they're swatting a fly away from their shoulder. ASL isn't just about moving your hands; it’s about the space between you and the person you're talking to. If you get the movement wrong, you're not saying "we"—you're just making noise with your fingers.
ASL is a visual-spatial language. That’s a fancy way of saying where you put your hands matters as much as what they’re doing. To figure out how to sign we in asl, you have to understand the concept of "indexing." In English, we use words like "he," "she," "they," or "we." In ASL, we point. But "we" is a bit special because it involves a movement that gathers people together.
The Basic "We" Sign: It’s All in the Dominant Hand
Let’s get the mechanics down. Use your dominant hand. If you’re right-handed, use your right. If you’re left-handed, use your left. Don't switch back and forth; that’s the fastest way to confuse a Deaf person.
Shape your hand into the "1" or "D" handshape. Basically, point your index finger up and tuck the rest of your fingers into your palm. Now, touch your index finger to your dominant side shoulder. If you're right-handed, that’s your right shoulder.
Here is the trick.
You aren't just tapping your shoulder. You need to arc your hand forward and across your chest, ending with your index finger touching your non-dominant shoulder. It’s a semi-circle. You’re literally drawing a physical line that connects "me" to "you" or "them."
Some people do this with a "W" handshape—three fingers up. You’ll see this in Signed Exact English (SEE), which is a system that tries to mirror English grammar exactly. But in natural ASL? Use the index finger. It’s cleaner. It’s faster. It’s how native signers actually communicate when they’re grabbing coffee or arguing about a movie.
Why Placement Changes Everything
Context is king. If you are talking about yourself and one other person standing right next to you, your arc should be small. If you're talking about a massive group of people, like "We, the people," that arc needs to be wider.
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Think about it like this.
In ASL, the space in front of you is a map. If you point to a spot on the right and say that’s "John," and a spot on the left and say that’s "Sarah," and then you sign "we" by arcing between those two spots, you’ve just included them in your sentence without saying their names again. It’s efficient. It’s beautiful.
But beginners often make the mistake of signing "we" too low. They do it down by their stomach. That looks weird. Keep it at chest level. Your hands should be visible and clear within the "signing box," which is roughly from the top of your head to your waist.
Variations You'll Actually See
The world of ASL isn't a monolith. Regional dialects exist. Age groups matter. Black American Sign Language (BASL) has its own nuances and flavors that might involve more emphasis or different rhythmic patterns.
You might see someone use a "horizontal" we. Instead of touching the shoulders, they circle their index finger in a horizontal plane in front of them. This is often used to mean "all of us here" or "this whole group." It’s less about a specific "me and you" connection and more about a collective "us."
Then there are the "Number-Inclusive" signs. This is where ASL gets really cool and where English feels kinda clunky. In English, we have to say "the two of us" or "the three of us." In ASL, you just change the handshape of the "we" sign.
- Two of us: Use a "2" handshape (the V sign). Point your palm up, then flip it so your fingers point toward your chest and then toward the other person. Back and forth. It’s a "K" or "P" handshape sometimes, depending on the angle.
- Three of us: Use a "3" handshape (thumb, index, and middle finger out). Circle it.
- Four or five of us: Same thing. Use the "4" or "5" handshape and make a small circular motion.
This isn't just a shortcut. It’s a core part of the grammar. If you just sign the basic "we" when you specifically mean "the two of us," a Deaf person will understand you, but you’ll sound a bit like a toddler saying "Me go store."
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Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Stop overthinking the wrist. People try to make the "we" sign look elegant by flicking their wrist at the end. Don't. It makes the sign look blurry.
Also, watch your face.
ASL is 70% facial expressions and body language. If you're signing "We are so happy!" but your face looks like you just bit into a lemon, you aren't communicating happiness. Your eyebrows should be neutral or slightly raised for a general statement. If you're asking a question like "Are we going?", your eyebrows should be pinched together (for a "who/what/where/how" question) or raised high (for a "yes/no" question).
Another big mistake? Crossing your arms too much. Keep your movements fluid but contained. If you’re swinging your arms wildly to sign "we," you’re going to hit someone or just look exhausted.
The Difference Between WE and US
In English, "we" is a subject and "us" is an object.
"We went to the park."
"The dog followed us."
In ASL, the sign for how to sign we in asl often covers both. The distinction is usually made through word order and the direction of the verbs. ASL uses a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) or Topic-Comment structure.
If you want to say "The dog followed us," you might sign DOG (point to the dog) FOLLOW (move the "follow" sign toward your chest). The direction of the "follow" sign tells the listener who is being followed. You don't always even need the "we" sign if the verb movement makes it clear.
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Real-World Practice
Don't just practice in front of a mirror. Mirrors are liars because they flip your perspective. If you practice in a mirror, you might accidentally train your brain to use the wrong hand or move in the wrong direction.
Record yourself on your phone. Watch it back. Does it look jerky? Is your arc smooth?
Check out resources like Lifeprint (Dr. Bill Vicars is a legend in the community) or Handspeak. These sites show real people signing, not just static diagrams. Diagrams are okay for a start, but they don't show the "flow." ASL is about the transition between signs.
If you're learning how to sign we in asl, try putting it into a simple sentence immediately.
- WE GO STORE. (We are going to the store.)
- WE EAT. (We are eating.)
- WE TWO LEARN ASL. (The two of us are learning ASL.)
Technical Nuance: The "Dual" Pronoun
Linguists like Ursula Bellugi have spent decades studying the structure of ASL. One thing they’ve highlighted is the "dual" pronoun system. English lost its dual pronouns a long time ago, but ASL keeps them alive and well.
When you use the "two-of-us" sign, you are using a specific grammatical feature that identifies exactly two people. It’s more precise than English. If you’re on a date and you say "We should go," the "two-of-us" sign makes it clear you aren't inviting the waiter.
Actionable Steps for Mastery
Learning one sign is a gateway. If you want to actually use "we" in a way that makes sense, you need to follow through with these specific steps:
- Identify your dominant hand and stick to it. If you're ambidextrous, pick one for signing and never look back.
- Practice the shoulder-to-shoulder arc ten times in a row. Focus on making it a smooth, semi-circular movement at chest height.
- Learn the "Two-of-us" variation. This is the most common way you'll actually use the concept of "we" in small conversations.
- Watch Deaf creators on TikTok or YouTube. Search for "Deaf Vlogs." Don't turn on the captions immediately. Just watch how they move their hands when they are talking about their families or friends. You'll see the "we" sign used in dozens of different speeds and sizes.
- Record yourself signing a full sentence. "We want coffee." Watch your facial expressions. If you look like a robot, try again with a smile or a nod.
ASL is a living, breathing language. It’s not a code for English. When you sign "we," you aren't just translating a word; you're visually representing a connection between yourself and others. Keep your arcs clear, your handshape consistent, and your expressions honest.
Key Takeaways for "We" in ASL
- Handshape: Index finger (1 shape) is standard for ASL.
- Movement: Touch dominant shoulder, arc forward, touch non-dominant shoulder.
- Location: Keep it at chest level, never lower than the ribs.
- Grammar: Use number-inclusive signs (two-of-us, three-of-us) for specific groups.
- Context: Facial expressions provide the "tone of voice" for the sign.
To get better, stop thinking in English words and start thinking in pictures. "We" isn't a two-letter word; it's a bridge you're building with your hand. Move that hand with intention, and you'll be understood every time.