Lessons
PocketSign
PocketSign

How to Sign "How You"

To sign 'how you' (which translates to 'how are you?'), start by forming both hands into curved shapes with your knuckles touching and thumbs extended, palms facing your chest. Roll your hands forward and outward so your palms end up facing upward. Then, smoothly transition your dominant hand to point your index finger directly at the person you are talking to. Remember to furrow your eyebrows slightly, as this facial expression is the ASL grammar marker for 'wh-' questions.

Examples Using "How You" in a Sentence

1

How are you doing today?

To ask this, sign 'how you' followed by the sign for 'today'. Keep your eyebrows furrowed to clearly show you are asking a question.

2

It's been a while, how are you?

After signing 'long time no see', sign 'how you'. Maintain eye contact and an inquiring facial expression to show genuine interest in their well-being.

3

How are you feeling?

Sign 'how you' and then the sign for 'feel'. Pointing directly at the person with your index finger makes it perfectly clear who you are asking.

How to Sign "How You"
To sign 'how you' (which translates to 'how are you?'), start by forming both hands into curved shapes with your knuckles touching and thumbs extended, palms facing your chest. Roll your hands forward and outward so your palms end up facing upward. Then, smoothly transition your dominant hand to point your index finger directly at the person you are talking to. Remember to furrow your eyebrows slightly, as this facial expression is the ASL grammar marker for 'wh-' questions.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
This phrase combines two highly visual and logical signs. The sign for 'how' visually represents the opening up or turning over of a situation to examine it, shown by the hands rolling outward to reveal the palms. The sign for 'you' is a direct, literal pointing gesture—known as a deictic sign—that clearly indicates the specific person being addressed.
Signing Tips
When signing 'how you', focus on making the movement fluid. The outward roll of the hands for 'how' should transition smoothly into the point for 'you' without a jerky pause. Most importantly, don't forget your facial expressions! In ASL, furrowing your eyebrows is a crucial grammatical marker for 'wh-' questions like 'how', signaling to the other person that you are asking them for information.
Common Mistakes
A frequent beginner mistake is forgetting the facial expression. If you sign 'how you' with a completely blank face, it can confuse the receiver because the grammatical question marker is missing. Another common error is keeping your hands too stiff during the 'how' portion; the rolling motion should be relaxed, natural, and pivot smoothly from the wrists.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "How You" in a Sentence
1

How are you doing today?

To ask this, sign 'how you' followed by the sign for 'today'. Keep your eyebrows furrowed to clearly show you are asking a question.

2

It's been a while, how are you?

After signing 'long time no see', sign 'how you'. Maintain eye contact and an inquiring facial expression to show genuine interest in their well-being.

3

How are you feeling?

Sign 'how you' and then the sign for 'feel'. Pointing directly at the person with your index finger makes it perfectly clear who you are asking.

Frequently Asked Questions
Do I always have to furrow my eyebrows when asking 'how are you?'

Yes, because 'how' is a 'wh-question' (who, what, where, when, why, how), it grammatically requires furrowed eyebrows in ASL. However, in very casual, quick greetings among friends, you might see signers use a more relaxed or raised-eyebrow expression to appear friendly.

Can I just sign 'how' without pointing to 'you'?

If it is completely obvious from the context that you are addressing the person directly in front of you, you can sometimes just sign 'how' with an inquiring look. However, adding the 'you' makes your question clear and direct.

Why isn't there a sign for the word 'are'?

ASL has its own distinct grammar and syntax, which does not use English 'to be' verbs like 'am,' 'is,' or 'are.' Therefore, the English phrase 'how are you?' translates directly and efficiently to just the signs 'HOW' and 'YOU.'

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