How to Sign "Do You"

To sign "do you," point your dominant index finger directly at the person you are talking to. Because ASL does not use a separate sign for the question word "do," the meaning comes entirely from your facial expression. Raise your eyebrows and tilt your head slightly forward while pointing to indicate that you are asking a yes/no question.

Examples Using "Do You" in a Sentence

1

Do you want to go to the store?

Sign "STORE," "GO," and "WANT," then finish by pointing to the person ("YOU") while keeping your eyebrows raised to indicate the yes/no question.

2

Do you like coffee?

Sign "COFFEE" and "LIKE," then point directly at the person ("YOU") with your eyebrows raised and head tilted slightly forward.

3

Do you have a dog?

Sign "DOG" and "HAVE," and then point to the person ("YOU") while holding a questioning facial expression with raised eyebrows.

How to Sign "Do You"
To sign "do you," point your dominant index finger directly at the person you are talking to. Because ASL does not use a separate sign for the question word "do," the meaning comes entirely from your facial expression. Raise your eyebrows and tilt your head slightly forward while pointing to indicate that you are asking a yes/no question.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
This sign relies on the basic ASL pronoun for "you," which is a straightforward, iconic pointing gesture toward the person being addressed. The "do" aspect is entirely grammatical, relying on ASL's non-manual markers (facial expressions) to change a standard pronoun into a question.
Signing Tips
The secret to signing "do you" perfectly is all in your face! Since ASL doesn't use a separate sign for the English word "do" in questions, your raised eyebrows and slight head tilt are what turn the simple sign for "you" into a yes/no question. Always hold that facial expression until the person starts to answer.
Common Mistakes
A very common mistake beginners make is trying to sign the literal English word "do" before signing "you." In ASL, auxiliary verbs like "do" are dropped. Another frequent mistake is forgetting the facial expression; without raised eyebrows, you are simply making a statement about the person rather than asking them a question.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "Do You" in a Sentence
1

Do you want to go to the store?

Sign "STORE," "GO," and "WANT," then finish by pointing to the person ("YOU") while keeping your eyebrows raised to indicate the yes/no question.

2

Do you like coffee?

Sign "COFFEE" and "LIKE," then point directly at the person ("YOU") with your eyebrows raised and head tilted slightly forward.

3

Do you have a dog?

Sign "DOG" and "HAVE," and then point to the person ("YOU") while holding a questioning facial expression with raised eyebrows.

Frequently Asked Questions
Why isn't there a separate sign for the word 'do'?

ASL has its own distinct grammar and doesn't use English auxiliary verbs like 'do,' 'is,' or 'are' to form questions. Instead, ASL uses non-manual markers, like raising your eyebrows, to turn a statement into a question.

Do I sign 'you' at the beginning or the end of the question?

You can sign 'you' at the beginning, the end, or both! Placing 'you' at the end of the sentence while holding your questioning facial expression is a very common and natural way to make it clear you are asking them a question.

What if I use furrowed eyebrows instead of raised eyebrows?

Furrowed eyebrows are used for 'Wh-' questions (who, what, where, when, why). Since 'do you' initiates a yes/no question, you must use raised eyebrows. Furrowing them will confuse the person you are signing with, as they will expect a 'Wh-' question.

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