Lessons
PocketSign
PocketSign

How to Sign "How Is Your Day"

Start by signing 'how': bring both hands together in curved shapes with knuckles touching and palms facing down, then roll them forward and outward so the palms face up. Next, sign 'day': place your non-dominant arm horizontally across your body, rest your dominant elbow on the back of your non-dominant hand, and with your dominant index finger pointing up, arc it downward to rest on your non-dominant arm. Keep your eyebrows furrowed throughout the phrase to indicate a question.

Examples Using "How Is Your Day" in a Sentence

1

How is your day going so far?

You can simply sign 'HOW DAY' with furrowed eyebrows to convey this entire thought naturally in ASL. The concept of 'so far' is often implied by the context of asking about someone's ongoing day.

2

How was your day at work?

In ASL, it is common to establish the topic or setting before asking a question about it. You would sign 'WORK' first to set the context, followed by 'HOW DAY' while furrowing your eyebrows.

3

I just wanted to ask how your day is.

To express this, you would point to yourself to indicate 'I', sign 'WANT ASK', and then complete the sentence with 'HOW DAY'. Remember to maintain your furrowed eyebrows at the end of the phrase.

How to Sign "How Is Your Day"
Start by signing 'how': bring both hands together in curved shapes with knuckles touching and palms facing down, then roll them forward and outward so the palms face up. Next, sign 'day': place your non-dominant arm horizontally across your body, rest your dominant elbow on the back of your non-dominant hand, and with your dominant index finger pointing up, arc it downward to rest on your non-dominant arm. Keep your eyebrows furrowed throughout the phrase to indicate a question.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
The signs in this phrase are deeply rooted in visual logic. The sign for 'how' visually suggests opening a situation up or turning something over in your hands to see how it works. The sign for 'day' is a beautiful, highly iconic gesture: your horizontal non-dominant arm represents the flat horizon of the earth, while your dominant arm represents the sun. The downward arcing motion perfectly mimics the sun's trajectory moving across the sky from sunrise to sunset.
Signing Tips
Facial expressions are a vital part of ASL grammar and function as the punctuation of your sentences. Since this phrase is a 'wh-' question, make sure to furrow your eyebrows and tilt your head slightly forward while signing. This signals that you expect an answer. When signing 'day', focus on making a smooth, deliberate arc with your dominant hand. Keep your non-dominant arm completely still and horizontal across your body, as it acts as a stationary base for the movement.
Common Mistakes
A frequent mistake beginners make is keeping a neutral or smiling facial expression while signing this phrase. Without the furrowed eyebrows, the grammatical marker for the question is lost, which can confuse the person you are signing with. Another common error occurs during the sign for 'day', where learners might accidentally move both arms or fail to rest their dominant elbow on their non-dominant hand. Remember that your non-dominant arm must remain stationary to clearly establish the visual horizon.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "How Is Your Day" in a Sentence
1

How is your day going so far?

You can simply sign 'HOW DAY' with furrowed eyebrows to convey this entire thought naturally in ASL. The concept of 'so far' is often implied by the context of asking about someone's ongoing day.

2

How was your day at work?

In ASL, it is common to establish the topic or setting before asking a question about it. You would sign 'WORK' first to set the context, followed by 'HOW DAY' while furrowing your eyebrows.

3

I just wanted to ask how your day is.

To express this, you would point to yourself to indicate 'I', sign 'WANT ASK', and then complete the sentence with 'HOW DAY'. Remember to maintain your furrowed eyebrows at the end of the phrase.

Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to sign the words 'is' and 'your'?

No. ASL has its own distinct grammar and does not use 'to be' verbs like 'is'. Additionally, while you could technically add the sign for 'your', simply signing 'HOW DAY' with the correct questioning facial expression perfectly and naturally conveys 'how is your day' in conversational ASL.

Why do I have to furrow my eyebrows?

In ASL, facial expressions do more than show emotion; they provide essential grammatical information. Furrowed eyebrows are the specific grammatical marker for 'wh-' questions (who, what, where, when, why, how). This expression clearly signals to the receiver that you are asking an open-ended question requiring a response.

Can I sign 'day' with a flat hand instead of my index finger?

Yes, absolutely! The sign for 'day' can be formed using either a 'D' handshape (with just the index finger pointing up, as shown in the video) or a flat 'B' handshape (with all fingers extended and together). Both variations are completely correct, common, and widely understood.

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