The following article describes the signs for the higher numbers in American Sign Language that signers who use ASL as their primary means of communication must learn. Each number includes a description of the sign as well as the SignWriting for the sign.
American Sign Language Numbers
American Sign Language includes signs for numbers. This article describes the signs for the higher numbers thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, seventy, eighty, ninety, one hundred, one thousand, and one million in ASL as well as includes the SignWriting for each number and images of the sign. The ASL signs for numbers should be signed with the dominant hand.
Thirty (30)
Make the sign for 3 followed by the sign for 0.
Begin by forming the signed number 3 with the thumb, index finger, and middle pointed straight, the ring and pinky fingers folded onto the palm of the hand, and the palm facing forward. Then lower the index and middle fingers down to touch the thumb. The fingers and thumb should round slightly to form a circle.
Forty (40)
Make the sign for 4 followed by the sign for 0.
Begin by forming the signed number 4 with the four fingers pointed straight up, the thumb folded onto the palm of the hand, and the palm facing forward. Then raise the thumb and lower the fingers down to touch the thumb. The fingers and thumb should round slightly to form the signed number 0.
Fifty (50)
Make the sign for 5 followed by the sign for 0.
Begin by forming the signed number 5 with all five digits pointed straight and held apart from each other and with the palm facing forward. Then lower the fingers down to touch the thumb. The fingers and thumb should round slightly to form the signed number 0.
Sixty (60)
Make the sign for 6 followed by the sign for 0.
Begin by forming the signed number 6 with the index, middle, and ring fingers pointed straight up, the pinky finger folded down with the tip of the pinky finger touching the tip of the thumb, and the palm facing forward. Then lower the fingers down to touch the thumb. The fingers and thumb should round slightly to form the signed number 0.
Seventy (70)
Make the sign for 7 followed by the sign for 0.
Begin by forming the signed number 7 with the pinky, middle and index fingers pointed straight up, the ring finger folded down with the tip of the ring finger touching the tip of the thumb, and the palm facing forward. Then lower the fingers down to touch the thumb. The fingers and thumb should round slightly to form the signed number 0.
Eighty (80)
Make the sign for 8 followed by the sign for 0.
Begin by forming the signed number 8 with the pinky, ring, and index fingers pointed straight up, the middle finger folded down with the tip of the ring finger touching the tip of the thumb, and the palm facing forward. Then lower the fingers down to touch the thumb. The fingers and thumb should round slightly to form the signed number 0.
Ninety (90)
Make the sign for 9 followed by the sign for 0.
Begin by forming the signed number 9 with the pink, ring, and middle fingers pointed straight up, the index finger folded down with the tip of the index finger touching the tip of the thumb, and the palm facing forward. Then lower the fingers down to touch the thumb. The fingers and thumb should round slightly to form the signed number 0.
One Hundred (100)
Begin by forming the signed number 1 with the hand in a fist and the index finger pointed straight up. Then form the hand into the shape of the letter C by rounding the fingers and thumb in halfway to the palm.
To form the signs for the other hundreds (200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900), also form the sign for the initial number followed by the shape of the letter C.
One Thousand (1,000)
Begin by forming the right hand into signed number 1 with the hand in a fist and the index finger pointed straight up. Hold the left hand at chest level with the palm facing up and the fingers held together. Then fold the thumb of the right hand onto to palm of the hand and bend the fingers down. Tap the fingertips of the right hand onto the palm of the left hand.
To form the signs for the other thousands (2,000; 3,000; 4,000; 5,000; 6,000; 7,000; 8,000; 9,000), also form the sign for the initial number followed by the tap on the left palm.
One Million (1,000,000)
Begin by forming the right hand into signed number 1 with the hand in a fist and the index finger pointed straight up. Hold the left hand at chest level with the palm facing up and the fingers held together. Then fold the thumb of the right hand onto to palm of the hand and bend the fingers down. Tap the fingertips of the right hand onto the palm of the left hand twice.
Printable Downloads
The accompanying printable vocabulary sheet of numbers in American Sign Language is available for download at ASL Higher Numbers Vocabulary Sheet and the accompanying printable flashcards at Sign Language Flashcards: American Sign Language Higher Numbers .
References
- “ASL Numbers” by Linguistics Girl: The Linguistic Librarian (Heather Marie Kosur) under (c) All Rights Reserved (Used with permission); http://www.flickr.com/photos/linguisticsgirl/sets/72157627489822801/
- “Signing Savvy”, http://www.signingsavvy.com/index.php
- “Lifeprint ASLU”, http://www.lifeprint.com/index.htm
- “SignWriting for Sign Languages,” http://www.signwriting.org/
- All SignWriting images courtesy of the author, Heather Marie Kosur
This post is part of the series: American Sign Language: Numbers
This series of American Sign Language articles describes the signs for the numerals in ASL as well as provides the number in SignWriting and images of the sign.
