How to Sign "High School"

To sign *high school*, you will use a quick fingerspelled abbreviation of the letters 'H' and 'S'. Start with your dominant hand in front of your shoulder in an 'H' handshape, with your index and middle fingers extended together. Then, smoothly and quickly pull your fingers in to form an 'S' handshape, which is a closed fist with your thumb wrapped across the front of your fingers. Keep the movement small and fluid.

Examples Using "High School" in a Sentence

1

I am in high school.

Point to yourself to sign 'I', and then smoothly sign the 'H-S' abbreviation for 'high school'.

2

Where is your high school?

Sign 'YOUR', then 'H-S' for 'high school', and finally 'WHERE'. Remember to furrow your eyebrows at the end since this is a 'wh-' question.

3

My high school is very big.

Sign 'MY', then 'H-S' for 'high school', and finish with the sign for 'BIG', using a facial expression that emphasizes the size.

How to Sign "High School"
To sign *high school*, you will use a quick fingerspelled abbreviation of the letters 'H' and 'S'. Start with your dominant hand in front of your shoulder in an 'H' handshape, with your index and middle fingers extended together. Then, smoothly and quickly pull your fingers in to form an 'S' handshape, which is a closed fist with your thumb wrapped across the front of your fingers. Keep the movement small and fluid.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
This sign is a perfect example of an abbreviation that has become a standard sign in ASL. Instead of signing the individual words 'HIGH' and 'SCHOOL', the deaf community adopted the quick, efficient fingerspelled initials 'H-S' to represent the concept.
Signing Tips
Keep the transition between the 'H' and the 'S' fluid and relaxed. You do not need to bounce your hand or move it to the side; the entire sign should happen in one comfortable spot just in front of your dominant shoulder.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is bouncing the hand between the two letters or moving the hand outward. Another frequent error for beginners is confusing the 'S' handshape with an 'A' handshape—make sure your thumb is wrapped across the front of your fingers, not resting on the side.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "High School" in a Sentence
1

I am in high school.

Point to yourself to sign 'I', and then smoothly sign the 'H-S' abbreviation for 'high school'.

2

Where is your high school?

Sign 'YOUR', then 'H-S' for 'high school', and finally 'WHERE'. Remember to furrow your eyebrows at the end since this is a 'wh-' question.

3

My high school is very big.

Sign 'MY', then 'H-S' for 'high school', and finish with the sign for 'BIG', using a facial expression that emphasizes the size.

Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'high school' fingerspelled instead of having its own unique sign?

In ASL, many common titles, places, or two-word phrases are abbreviated using their initials to save time. 'H-S' is much faster and more efficient for everyday conversation than signing the separate words 'HIGH' and 'SCHOOL'.

Can I just sign the words 'HIGH' and 'SCHOOL' separately?

While people would likely understand you, it is not the natural or standard way to say 'high school' in ASL. Native signers almost exclusively use the 'H-S' abbreviation, so it is best to learn and use that version.

Should I mouth the words 'high school' while signing this?

You can mouth the English words 'high school' or simply the letters 'H-S' depending on your preference and the context. However, the manual sign itself carries the full meaning, so mouthing is optional.

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