Lessons
PocketSign
PocketSign

How to Sign "Reply"

To sign "reply," form both hands into 'R' handshapes by crossing your index and middle fingers. Start with your hands near your mouth or chin, with your palms facing inward. Move both hands forward and slightly down, flipping your wrists so your palms face outward, as if directing your response to someone in front of you.

Examples Using "Reply" in a Sentence

1

I will reply to your email later.

Sign "reply" moving outward from your mouth toward the person you are addressing, showing that the response is coming from you to them.

2

Please reply quickly.

After signing "please," sign "reply" moving outward, then sign "quick" to emphasize the speed of the expected response.

3

Did she reply to you?

You can adjust the direction of the sign. Start the 'R' hands near the spatial location representing "her" and move them toward the location representing "you."

How to Sign "Reply"
To sign "reply," form both hands into 'R' handshapes by crossing your index and middle fingers. Start with your hands near your mouth or chin, with your palms facing inward. Move both hands forward and slightly down, flipping your wrists so your palms face outward, as if directing your response to someone in front of you.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
The sign for 'reply' is a great example of an initialized sign. It takes the foundational movement of the sign for 'answer' or 'respond'—which visually represents words leaving the mouth and traveling toward another person—and incorporates the 'R' handshape to specifically represent the English word 'reply.' This visual logic makes it easy to remember: your thoughts are literally moving from you to your conversation partner.
Signing Tips
Remember that 'reply' is a directional verb, meaning the movement of your hands shows who is replying to whom. The standard form shown in the video means 'I reply to you,' moving from your mouth outward. If you want to say 'you reply to me,' you would start the 'R' hands away from your body and move them inward toward your chest. Use your eyes and head tilt to naturally follow the direction of the conversation.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake for beginners is forgetting to cross the fingers into the 'R' handshape, which makes the sign look identical to 'answer' (which uses '1' handshapes). Make sure your index and middle fingers are clearly crossed on both hands. Another frequent error is keeping the hands static; the forward movement is essential to show the action of responding. Keep the motion crisp and intentional.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "Reply" in a Sentence
1

I will reply to your email later.

Sign "reply" moving outward from your mouth toward the person you are addressing, showing that the response is coming from you to them.

2

Please reply quickly.

After signing "please," sign "reply" moving outward, then sign "quick" to emphasize the speed of the expected response.

3

Did she reply to you?

You can adjust the direction of the sign. Start the 'R' hands near the spatial location representing "her" and move them toward the location representing "you."

Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between "reply" and "answer"?

"Answer" uses '1' handshapes (index fingers pointing up), while "reply" is initialized and uses 'R' handshapes (crossed index and middle fingers). Both share the same forward movement from the mouth.

Do I always move my hands forward when signing "reply"?

Not always! "Reply" is a directional sign. If you are saying "he replied to me," you would start the sign away from your body and move it inward toward yourself.

Do I need to mouth the word "reply" while signing it?

You don't have to over-exaggerate it, but gently mouthing the word "reply" can help clarify your meaning, especially since it's an initialized sign closely related to "answer" and "respond."

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