To sign nineteen, start by forming the ASL number 9 with your dominant hand. Touch the tips of your index finger and thumb together while keeping your middle, ring, and pinky fingers extended. Hold your hand up with your palm facing forward, then quickly twist your wrist back and forth a couple of times.
To sign this, point to yourself for 'I', sign 'age' by pulling a modified 'O' handshape down from your chin, and then sign 'nineteen'.
Sign 'class', then 'have', followed by 'nineteen', and finally 'students' (signing 'learn' and adding the person marker).
Sign 'my', then 'room' using flat hands to outline a box, sign 'number' by tapping flat 'O' hands together, and finish with 'nineteen'.
To sign this, point to yourself for 'I', sign 'age' by pulling a modified 'O' handshape down from your chin, and then sign 'nineteen'.
Sign 'class', then 'have', followed by 'nineteen', and finally 'students' (signing 'learn' and adding the person marker).
Sign 'my', then 'room' using flat hands to outline a box, sign 'number' by tapping flat 'O' hands together, and finish with 'nineteen'.
The number 9 uses the exact same handshape but is held completely still. The number 19 requires the twisting or shaking motion of the wrist to indicate the 'teen' part of the number.
The twisting motion is an assimilation of the sign for '10' (which wiggles the thumb) and the single digit. Over time, the two signs merged into one smooth twisting motion applied to the 6, 7, 8, or 9 handshape.
To sign an ordinal number like '19th', form the '19' handshape and twist it while pulling your hand slightly backward toward your body.
