In Amsterdam they may say "Ik hou van je." In Paris, they most certainly say "Je t'aime." In Albania, they'll say "Te dua," and in Zulu, "Ngiyakuthanda!" It's the phrase we know as "I love you," and this is how you can say it in American Sign Language (ASL).
Steps
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Make a fist. Don’t make it too tight, and smile when you do it—you’re about to tell somebody something wonderful.
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Lift up your pinky finger. This creates the sign language symbol for the personal pronoun "I.” [3] X Research source
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Lift up your index finger. This would resemble horns with the two fingers. Unless you’re ready to rock, move quickly to the next step! [4] X Research source
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Lift up your thumb. The index finger and thumb create the letter "L," and the pinky finger in concert with the thumb creates the "Y.” [5] X Research source
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Put the steps together all at once, and say, “I love you!” [6] X Research source
Community Q&A
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QuestionHow can I practice sign language?Community AnswerWatch tutorials on YouTube. I would recommend getting a tutor who can teach sign language as well, but the tutorials will help a lot.
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QuestionWhich way do I hold my hand to sign "I love you"?Community AnswerYou will hold your hand in multiple ways. You will point to yourself when you say "I" and then point to the person you're speaking to when you say "you."
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QuestionHow do I say "Mary" in sign language?Community AnswerThe name Mary is finger spelled by putting your thumb between your pinky and ring finger “M”, then close your fist and have your thumb next to your index finger “A”, the “R” is made by crossing your middle and index finger. Finally “Y” is made by sticking out your thumb and pinky. It should look like the letter “Y”.
Video
Tips
- Hold your palm facing away from you when you do this.Thanks
- Make sure you have the thumb out. If not, this means (to some people) "rock on"! Meanwhile, not extending the index finger makes the "good vibes" sign, and not extending the pinky makes the "loser" sign.Thanks
- The "I love you" sign is also listed in Unicode as 🤟 (U+1F91F).Thanks
References
About This Article
To sign “I love you” in sign language, make an “L” with your thumb and index finger, and raise your pinky finger. Then, motion towards the person you’re talking to with your hand. You can also sign “I love you” in sign language by pointing to your chest, crossing your arms in front of your chest to make an “X,” and then pointing towards the person you’re saying “I love you” to. To learn the subtle differences between the two signs for "I love you," keep reading!