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How to Sign Emotions in American Sign Language (ASL)

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Co-authored by Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: December 22, 2022 References

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American Sign Language (ASL) is one awesome language. Rather than speaking words, ASL users express their emotions, feelings, and thoughts with hand and facial movements. Learning ASL not only helps you connect with a number of people in the Deaf community, but it’s also super fun! If you’re new to ASL or looking for a quick refresher, keep reading because we can help you sign exactly what you’re feeling right now.

1

Happy

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To sign "happy," rotate 1 or 2 hands in front of your chest. Flatten your palm towards you with your thumb up. Glide your hand through the air swiftly, bringing it up and back around in a circular motion, as if you were wafting up a pleasant smell. ^{[1]
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- This sign can be done with 1 or 2 hands. Using both hands usually means an overwhelming feeling of happiness.

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2

Sad

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To sign "sad," drag both hands down your face like tears. Hold your hands in front of your face with your fingers spread wide. Bring your hands up to your eyes or forehead and drag downwards.
- This emotion can be signed with one or both hands. ^{[2]
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3

Angry or Mad

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Spread your fingers in front of your face. Bend and claw your fingertips, holding them in front of your nose and mouth. ^{[3]
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4

Worry

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Press your fingers together, and angle them so your palms face each other. Use circular motions to wave your hands in front of your face or chest.

5

Disgust

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To sign "disgust", rub a clawed hand over your chest. Bend your fingers and thumb halfway into a fist to resemble a claw. Then, bring that hand to the center of your chest and move it in a clockwise circle.
- This emotion can be signed in frantic or curt motions depending on the urgency of the signer. ^{[4]
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6

Envy or Jealousy

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Tap your pointer finger to your chin with your other fingers and thumb closed into a fist. Twist the tip of your pointer finger into your chin, and then flick outwards. ^{[5]
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7

Stressed

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Make a fist with one hand, and spread your fingers wide on the other. Place the hand with spread fingers on top of your fist and strongly bring your hands up and down. ^{[6]
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8

Hope

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To sign "hope," tap your forehead and wave your fingers. Squeeze your fingers together and flatten your palms. Touch the tip of your fingers to your temple with one hand. Bring that hand down and lift the other. Bend both hands by the knuckles in a beckoning or patting motion. ^{[7]
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- This emotion can also be expressed by crossing your pointer and middle fingers.

9

Shy

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To sign "shy," cup your hand up and away from your cheek. Make a “C” shape with your fingers, curling them halfway into a fist. Bring your knuckles to your cheek with your thumb down. Twist your wrist swiftly to move your thumb up while keeping your fingers cupped and resting on your cheek. ^{[8]
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- Think of it like making a thumbs-up without closing your fingers into a fist.

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10

Love

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Bring your hands into fists and cross them over your chest as if you’re hugging yourself.

11

Hurt

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To sign "hurt," point at your fingers and twist. Make a pointing gesture with both hands, sticking your pointer finger out and bringing your thumb and other fingers into a fist. Point your pointer fingers at each other and twist your wrists inwards once. ^{[9]
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- This sign can also be done by pointing the fingers at each other without the twist.

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12

Bored

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Pretend you’re pointing at something. Then, bring the tip of your pointer finger to the edge of your nostril. Tap your finger away and bring it back to your nose.

13

Frustrated

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To sign "frustrated," tap 4 fingers on your chin. Hold your hand with your palm out and bring your 4 fingers up to your chin. Tap your chin once with the back of your fingers, then bring them swiftly down.
- Make this motion like you’re swatting something away from your face.
- This emotion can also be expressed by tapping your pointer finger on your chin. ^{[10]
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14

Annoyed

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Place the tip of your middle finger between your ear and eyebrow. Then, twist your wrist forward as if you’re showing someone the back of your hand. ^{[11]
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15

Embarrassed

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Hold your hands out in front of you and spread your fingers wide. Bring your spread hands to your face and circle them once clockwise. ^{[12]
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16

Scared or Frightened

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To sign "scared" or "frightened," spread your fingers over your chest. Hold your hands in fists across your torso, with one hand over your chest and the other over your abdomen. Spread your fingers quickly.
- This emotion can also be expressed without closing your hands into fists and moving spread fingers across your chest.

17

Guilty

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To sign "guilty," tap a pointed hand over your shoulder. Pretend you’re pointing at something with your pointer finger. Then, take that hand across your chest to the opposite shoulder. Tap your hand on your upper chest near your collar bone twice.
- This emotion can also be signed with a pinched pointer finger and thumb. ^{[13]
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18

Surprised

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To sign "surprised," flick an “L” shape away from your mouth. Press your pointer finger and thumb together, folding your other fingers into a fist. Bring the tips to the corners of your mouth. Move your hands away from your mouth and spread your pointer finger and thumb into an “L” shape, folding down your other fingers.
- Think of this sign as aiming finger guns at the sky.

19

Excited

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To sign "excited," wave your wands with your middle finger bent. Spread your fingers wide, and then flatten your middle finger. Hold this position and circle your hands in front of your chest.
- This emotion can also be expressed by shaking your fists or cupping your eyes like in a “peek-a-boo.”

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20

Doubt

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Make a peace sign with one hand, holding your pointer and middle finger up while tucking in the rest of your fingers and thumb. Point at your eyes with these 2 fingers, and then bend them. ^{[14]
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21

Shame

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Place the back of your hand under your chin, with your fingers flat and wrist down. Bring your hand forward and away from your chin in one swift motion, so that your palm is up and hand flat. ^{[15]
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Community Q&A

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Question

What does a fist in the hand with thumb up mean?

Community Answer

Help...if you point it toward someone it can mean "You help me" or "I help you" or some variation of that.

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Question

Does anyone know any accurate and easy-to-learn ASL websites?

Community Answer

Aslproz.com, lifeprint.com, handspeak.com, spreadthesign.com. The signs may vary between websites, but that's because signs can vary regionally and also there can be multiple signs for a word just in general.

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How do I tell what people are saying in sign language?

Community Answer

Most of what people sign can be told through their facial expressions. If you cannot find out what the person is saying, it is easiest to figure out if they are asking a question (raised eyebrows means yes or no, lowered eyebrows mean an answering question) and to find out how they feel about the subject.

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Tips

Your facial expressions show just as much meaning and emotion as your hands in ASL, so be expressive. For example, if you’re happy, smile; if you’re worried, furrow your brows. ^{[16]
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There can be multiple interpretations for many emotions, words, and phrases in ASL. ASL is a linguistic language, so signers and interpreters can have different signed accents, dialects, and expressions for a signed feeling or emotion. ^{[17]
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About This Article

Co-authored by:

wikiHow Staff Writer

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano . Aly Rusciano is a Creative Writer based outside of Nashville, Tennessee. She has over ten years of experience in creative, academic, and professional writing. Aly’s writing has been nationally recognized in the Sigma Tau Delta Rectangle and featured in Blue Marble Review, The Sunshine Review, PopMatters, and Cathartic Literary Magazine. She graduated from The University of Tennessee at Martin with a BA in English, focusing in Creative Writing and minoring in Theatre. This article has been viewed 192,158 times.

10 votes - 80%

Co-authors: 24

Updated: December 22, 2022

Views: 192,158

Categories: Sign Language

Medical Disclaimer

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 192,158 times.

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