How to Sign "Evening"

To sign "evening," start by holding your non-dominant arm horizontally across your body with the palm facing down. Form a bent handshape with your dominant hand, keeping your fingers together and bent at the knuckles. Bring your dominant wrist down to tap the back of your non-dominant hand twice.

Examples Using "Evening" in a Sentence

1

Good evening!

Sign "good" by moving your flat dominant hand from your chin down to your non-dominant hand, then smoothly transition into the sign for "evening" by tapping your bent dominant hand on your non-dominant wrist.

2

I study in the evening.

Point to yourself for "I," sign "study" by wiggling the fingers of your dominant hand over your open non-dominant palm, and then finish with the sign for "evening."

3

See you tomorrow evening.

Sign "see you" by moving a "V" handshape from your eye forward, sign "tomorrow" by moving an "A" handshape forward from your cheek, and conclude with "evening."

How to Sign "Evening"
To sign "evening," start by holding your non-dominant arm horizontally across your body with the palm facing down. Form a bent handshape with your dominant hand, keeping your fingers together and bent at the knuckles. Bring your dominant wrist down to tap the back of your non-dominant hand twice.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
The sign for "evening" is highly visual and relies on a natural, easy-to-understand metaphor. Your non-dominant arm represents the flat horizon of the earth, while your dominant hand represents the sun. By placing your bent hand on top of your non-dominant hand, you are showing the sun resting right on the horizon, perfectly capturing the time of day just before the sun fully sets into night.
Signing Tips
Think of your non-dominant arm as the horizon and your dominant hand as the setting sun. For "evening," the sun is just starting to go down, so your dominant wrist rests or taps right on the back of your non-dominant hand. Keep your fingers neatly together and bent at the knuckles to make the sign clear and recognizable. Relax your shoulders and keep the movement smooth.
Common Mistakes
A very common mistake for beginners is confusing "evening" with "night" or "afternoon." While they use similar handshapes, "evening" is signed by tapping the heel of your dominant hand on the back of your non-dominant hand. For "night," the dominant hand moves further down, crossing over the non-dominant hand to show the sun has fully set. Be careful not to drop your hand too far!
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "Evening" in a Sentence
1

Good evening!

Sign "good" by moving your flat dominant hand from your chin down to your non-dominant hand, then smoothly transition into the sign for "evening" by tapping your bent dominant hand on your non-dominant wrist.

2

I study in the evening.

Point to yourself for "I," sign "study" by wiggling the fingers of your dominant hand over your open non-dominant palm, and then finish with the sign for "evening."

3

See you tomorrow evening.

Sign "see you" by moving a "V" handshape from your eye forward, sign "tomorrow" by moving an "A" handshape forward from your cheek, and conclude with "evening."

Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between "evening" and "night"?

In "evening," your dominant hand rests or taps on the back of your non-dominant hand, showing the sun on the horizon. For "night," your dominant hand moves over and down past the non-dominant hand, showing the sun has completely set.

Do I need to tap my hand twice for "evening"?

You can sign "evening" with a single, deliberate placement or a gentle double tap. Both are widely understood, but a double tap is often used in casual conversation to emphasize the time of day.

Which hand should be on top?

Your dominant hand should always be the one moving and resting on top. If you are right-handed, your right hand will be the "sun" resting on your left arm, which acts as the stationary horizon.

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