How to Sign "Saturday"
To sign 'Saturday', bring the hand into a fist with the thumb resting on the outside of the fist. Bring the arm up so the hand is by the head, with the palm facing towards you. Move the hand in a circle at the wrist.
Examples Using "Saturday" in a Sentence
1
Let's meet up on Saturday.
To sign this, start by signing 'Saturday' using the 'S' handshape circling at your wrist with your palm facing you. Then, sign 'meet' by bringing your two index fingers together to represent two people approaching each other.
2
I don't work on Saturdays.
Begin by signing 'Saturday' with the circling 'S' handshape. Then, sign 'work' by tapping your dominant wrist over your non-dominant wrist, accompanied by a head shake and the sign for 'not' to show you have the day off.
3
Saturday is my favorite day.
Sign 'Saturday' by bringing your 'S' hand up near your head and circling it at the wrist. Follow this with the signs for 'my', 'favorite', and 'day' to complete the thought.
How to Sign "Saturday"
To sign 'Saturday', bring the hand into a fist with the thumb resting on the outside of the fist. Bring the arm up so the hand is by the head, with the palm facing towards you. Move the hand in a circle at the wrist.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
The sign for 'Saturday' is known as an initialized sign. This means it uses the first letter of the English word—in this case, the ASL letter 'S'—as its handshape. The circular movement at the wrist is a shared feature among several days of the week in ASL, visually representing the continuous, rolling cycle of the calendar.
Signing Tips
When signing 'Saturday', focus on keeping the movement isolated to your wrist. Your arm should remain relatively still while your hand does the work. Make sure you are forming a clear 'S' handshape—a fist with your thumb wrapped across the front of your folded fingers, not resting on the side. Keep your palm facing toward your own body throughout the circular motion.
Common Mistakes
A very common mistake is confusing the 'S' handshape with the 'A' handshape. Remember that for 'Saturday', your thumb must wrap across the front of your fingers, whereas an 'A' has the thumb resting on the side. Another frequent error is moving the entire arm from the elbow or shoulder to make the circle, rather than keeping the movement strictly at the wrist.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "Saturday" in a Sentence
1Let's meet up on Saturday.
To sign this, start by signing 'Saturday' using the 'S' handshape circling at your wrist with your palm facing you. Then, sign 'meet' by bringing your two index fingers together to represent two people approaching each other.
2I don't work on Saturdays.
Begin by signing 'Saturday' with the circling 'S' handshape. Then, sign 'work' by tapping your dominant wrist over your non-dominant wrist, accompanied by a head shake and the sign for 'not' to show you have the day off.
3Saturday is my favorite day.
Sign 'Saturday' by bringing your 'S' hand up near your head and circling it at the wrist. Follow this with the signs for 'my', 'favorite', and 'day' to complete the thought.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my palm need to face toward me?
In ASL, the days of the week that use initialized circular motions (like Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday) are traditionally signed with the palm facing the signer. Facing the palm outward can look unnatural and makes the sign slightly harder to read.
Is the sign for Sunday similar to Saturday?
No, they are quite different! While Saturday uses a single 'S' handshape circling at the wrist, Sunday uses both hands with open, flat palms moving in a downward, sweeping motion. Sunday does not use an initialized handshape.
How do I sign 'every Saturday'?
To indicate that something happens every Saturday, you modify the movement. Instead of circling the 'S' handshape at your wrist, you form the 'S' handshape with your palm facing you and pull it straight down. This downward sweep implies a recurring weekly event.
ASL is a beautiful, expressive language. Practice regularly and have fun!