The "one" handshape is used on both hands with palms oriented toward each other. Bring the extended index fingers toward each other to meet at the middle knuckle at right angles to each other and slightly bend the index fingers. Unhook the index fingers and switch the orientation of each palm so that the one facing downward is up and vice-versa, now repeat the hooking together of the index fingers.
Sign 'we' and 'good', then perform the 'friends' sign by hooking your slightly bent index fingers together, unhooking them, switching which hand is on top, and hooking them again.
Sign 'I', 'have', and 'many'. Finish by signing 'friends', making sure to clearly link your index fingers twice while alternating their palm orientations.
Point to the two people, sign 'friends' by interlocking your index fingers twice with the flipping motion, and raise your eyebrows to show you are asking a yes/no question.
Sign 'we' and 'good', then perform the 'friends' sign by hooking your slightly bent index fingers together, unhooking them, switching which hand is on top, and hooking them again.
Sign 'I', 'have', and 'many'. Finish by signing 'friends', making sure to clearly link your index fingers twice while alternating their palm orientations.
Point to the two people, sign 'friends' by interlocking your index fingers twice with the flipping motion, and raise your eyebrows to show you are asking a yes/no question.
In ASL, the sign for 'friend' and 'friends' is exactly the same. The plural meaning is usually understood from the context of your sentence, such as adding signs like 'many' or 'group,' or through sweeping pointing gestures to indicate multiple people.
Yes, the standard sign for 'friends' involves hooking the index fingers together, switching, and hooking them a second time. If you only hook them once and hold it, it can look like a different sign or seem incomplete to fluent signers.
No, it does not matter which hand starts on top. Most signers naturally start with their dominant hand on top or moving toward the non-dominant hand, but as long as you hook, switch, and hook again, the meaning is perfectly clear.
