How to sign "Don't Know" in ASL
With your dominant hand in an open-palm 5 shape, bring your fingertips to your forehead. Flip your fingers away from your body, facing your palm toward the sky. Simultaneously shrug your shoulders and raise your eyebrows.
Examples Using "Don't Know" in a Sentence
"I don't know where my keys are."
Sign 'keys', then 'where', and finish with the 'don't know' sign. Make sure to include the shoulder shrug and raised eyebrows to emphasize your uncertainty about the location.
"Do you know the answer? I don't know."
Point to the person and sign 'know answer', then point to yourself and execute the 'don't know' sign by flipping your open hand away from your forehead while shrugging.
"I don't know how to cook."
Sign 'cook', then 'how', and follow up with 'don't know'. Remember to keep your palm facing the sky at the end of the motion to clearly show you are unsure.
Tips for Signing "Don't Know"
To make your sign for 'don't know' look natural, focus heavily on your non-manual markers, which are your facial expressions and body language. The physical hand motion of flipping your open-palm 5 shape away from your forehead is only half of the sign. The shoulder shrug and raised eyebrows are crucial for conveying the feeling of uncertainty. Make sure the movement is fluid; do not pause between touching your forehead and flipping your hand outward. Let the hand naturally fall outward as if you are tossing the thought away.
Common Mistakes
A frequent mistake beginners make is forgetting the facial expressions and body language. If you just flip your hand away from your forehead without shrugging your shoulders or raising your eyebrows, the sign looks robotic and lacks the necessary context of confusion. Another common error is keeping the palm facing downward or toward the body at the end of the sign; make sure your palm ends up facing the sky. Finally, avoid using a closed fist or pointing finger—keep your hand in a relaxed, open 5 shape.
Where Does This Sign Come From?
The sign for 'don't know' is highly iconic and visually logical. In ASL, the forehead is the location for many signs related to the mind, thinking, and knowledge. By touching the forehead and then flipping the hand away and outward, you are visually demonstrating that the knowledge is not there or that you are discarding the thought. The open palm facing the sky, combined with the universal gesture of a shoulder shrug, universally signals an empty grasp or a lack of answers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to use the shoulder shrug and eyebrows?
Yes! In ASL, facial expressions and body movements are called non-manual markers, and they act like the tone of voice in spoken English. The shrug and raised eyebrows are essential for showing genuine uncertainty and making the sign feel complete.
Can I use two hands to sign 'don't know'?
No, 'don't know' is typically a one-handed sign. You should only use your dominant hand to touch your forehead and flip outward. Using two hands would look unnatural and might confuse the person you are signing with.
What is the difference between 'know' and 'don't know'?
The sign for 'know' involves simply tapping your forehead with your fingers and keeping them there. 'Don't know' starts the same way but adds the outward flipping motion, turning the palm to the sky, along with the shrug to show the negative.
Related ASL Signs
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