Lessons
PocketSign
PocketSign

How to Sign "I Dont Understand"

To sign 'I don't understand,' bring your dominant hand up near the side of your forehead in a closed fist, with your palm facing toward you. Flick your index finger up so it points straight up. Crucially, as you do this motion, shake your head 'no' and furrow your eyebrows to show confusion.

Examples Using "I Dont Understand" in a Sentence

1

I'm sorry, I don't understand.

Sign 'SORRY' by rubbing an 'A' handshape in a circle on your chest, then sign 'I DON'T UNDERSTAND' by flicking your index finger up near your forehead while shaking your head.

2

I don't understand the homework.

First, sign 'HOMEWORK', then sign 'I DON'T UNDERSTAND', making sure to furrow your brows and shake your head to clearly show your confusion.

3

Wait, I don't understand what you mean.

Sign 'WAIT', then sign 'I DON'T UNDERSTAND' with a clear negative headshake, followed by 'MEAN' to ask for clarification.

How to Sign "I Dont Understand"
To sign 'I don't understand,' bring your dominant hand up near the side of your forehead in a closed fist, with your palm facing toward you. Flick your index finger up so it points straight up. Crucially, as you do this motion, shake your head 'no' and furrow your eyebrows to show confusion.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
The base sign for 'understand' represents a 'lightbulb' going off in your head—a sudden realization or grasping of a concept, shown by the finger flicking up. By adding the negative headshake, a standard ASL grammatical feature for negation, you change the meaning from 'I get it' to 'I don't get it.'
Signing Tips
The key to this sign is the non-manual marker—your facial expression and head movement. Without the headshake, the sign just means 'understand.' Make sure to clearly shake your head 'no' and furrow your eyebrows to convey that you are confused or lacking comprehension. Keep the hand movement crisp and close to your forehead.
Common Mistakes
A frequent mistake beginners make is forgetting to shake their head. If you flick your finger up but keep your head still, you are actually signing 'I understand!' Another mistake is placing the hand too far away from the head; keep it just to the side of your forehead.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "I Dont Understand" in a Sentence
1

I'm sorry, I don't understand.

Sign 'SORRY' by rubbing an 'A' handshape in a circle on your chest, then sign 'I DON'T UNDERSTAND' by flicking your index finger up near your forehead while shaking your head.

2

I don't understand the homework.

First, sign 'HOMEWORK', then sign 'I DON'T UNDERSTAND', making sure to furrow your brows and shake your head to clearly show your confusion.

3

Wait, I don't understand what you mean.

Sign 'WAIT', then sign 'I DON'T UNDERSTAND' with a clear negative headshake, followed by 'MEAN' to ask for clarification.

Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to sign 'I' before 'don't understand'?

In ASL, pronouns are often dropped if the context is clear. Simply signing 'don't understand' with the correct facial expression is usually enough to mean 'I don't understand.'

How is this different from the sign for 'understand'?

The manual hand movement is exactly the same! The entire difference relies on your head movement. Shaking your head 'no' makes it negative.

Can I use two hands for this sign?

No, 'understand' and 'don't understand' are strictly one-handed signs. Using two hands might confuse the viewer or look like a completely different sign.

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