How to Sign "Arrive"

To sign 'arrive,' start by holding your non-dominant hand out in front of you with the palm facing up. Form a flat handshape with your dominant hand, holding it slightly higher and closer to your body. Bring your dominant hand down and forward, landing the back of it flat onto the palm of your non-dominant hand, as if reaching a destination.

Examples Using "Arrive" in a Sentence

1

What time did you arrive?

Sign 'TIME', 'YOU', 'ARRIVE', while furrowing your eyebrows at the end to indicate a 'WH' question. The firm landing of the hands emphasizes the completion of the journey.

2

I will arrive tomorrow.

Sign 'TOMORROW', 'I', 'ARRIVE'. By placing the time sign 'TOMORROW' at the beginning of the sentence, you establish the future tense before showing the action.

3

My friend arrived late.

Sign 'MY', 'FRIEND', 'ARRIVE', 'LATE'. Ensure your non-dominant hand stays perfectly still while the dominant hand moves to show the action of arriving.

How to Sign "Arrive"
To sign 'arrive,' start by holding your non-dominant hand out in front of you with the palm facing up. Form a flat handshape with your dominant hand, holding it slightly higher and closer to your body. Bring your dominant hand down and forward, landing the back of it flat onto the palm of your non-dominant hand, as if reaching a destination.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
The sign for 'arrive' is highly visual and iconic. Your stationary non-dominant hand acts as the destination or the ground, while your moving dominant hand represents the person or object traveling. The landing perfectly illustrates reaching the end of a journey.
Signing Tips
Focus on the crispness of the movement. Keep both hands in a relaxed but flat 'open B' handshape. Your dominant hand should land firmly but gently on your non-dominant hand to clearly show the completion of the action.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is clapping the palms together. Remember that the back of the dominant hand should land on the palm of the non-dominant hand. Another mistake is moving both hands; keep the non-dominant hand stationary as the base.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "Arrive" in a Sentence
1

What time did you arrive?

Sign 'TIME', 'YOU', 'ARRIVE', while furrowing your eyebrows at the end to indicate a 'WH' question. The firm landing of the hands emphasizes the completion of the journey.

2

I will arrive tomorrow.

Sign 'TOMORROW', 'I', 'ARRIVE'. By placing the time sign 'TOMORROW' at the beginning of the sentence, you establish the future tense before showing the action.

3

My friend arrived late.

Sign 'MY', 'FRIEND', 'ARRIVE', 'LATE'. Ensure your non-dominant hand stays perfectly still while the dominant hand moves to show the action of arriving.

Frequently Asked Questions
Does it matter which hand moves?

Yes, your dominant hand should always be the one moving and landing on your non-dominant hand. The non-dominant hand stays still to act as the destination point.

Can I use this sign for a package arriving?

Absolutely! This sign is versatile and can be used for a person arriving at a party, a flight landing at an airport, or a package arriving in the mail.

How is this different from the sign for 'stop'?

For 'stop,' the dominant hand strikes the non-dominant palm with its pinky edge, like a sharp karate chop. For 'arrive,' the back of the dominant hand rests flat against the non-dominant palm.

ASL is a beautiful, expressive language. Practice regularly and have fun!