How to Sign "Taco"

To sign 'taco', form your non-dominant hand into a slightly cupped shape, holding it sideways to represent a hard taco shell. Take your dominant hand, keeping your fingers flat and together. Insert the fingertips of your dominant hand into the 'shell' of your non-dominant hand, mimicking the action of putting filling inside a taco.

Examples Using "Taco" in a Sentence

1

I want a taco for dinner.

Sign 'I', 'want', 'taco', and then 'dinner'. When signing 'taco', make sure your dominant hand clearly taps into the cupped non-dominant hand.

2

Do you like tacos?

Point to the person for 'you', sign 'like', and then sign 'taco'. Remember to raise your eyebrows at the end to show you are asking a yes/no question.

3

Let's get tacos on Tuesday.

Sign 'Tuesday', then 'taco'. You can repeat the 'taco' sign's tapping motion slightly to indicate the plural 'tacos', or just sign it once depending on the flow of your sentence.

How to Sign "Taco"
To sign 'taco', form your non-dominant hand into a slightly cupped shape, holding it sideways to represent a hard taco shell. Take your dominant hand, keeping your fingers flat and together. Insert the fingertips of your dominant hand into the 'shell' of your non-dominant hand, mimicking the action of putting filling inside a taco.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
This sign is highly iconic, meaning it visually represents exactly what it means. The non-dominant hand mimics the shape of a hard taco shell, while the dominant hand represents the meat, cheese, or other ingredients being placed inside.
Signing Tips
Keep your non-dominant hand steady and clearly cupped so the 'shell' is visible. Your dominant hand should slide in smoothly. Imagine you are actually holding a hard taco shell in your non-dominant hand to get the angle just right.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is clapping the hands together flatly instead of cupping the non-dominant hand. If both hands are flat, it might look more like the sign for 'again' or 'sandwich'. Make sure the non-dominant hand holds that distinct taco shell shape.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "Taco" in a Sentence
1

I want a taco for dinner.

Sign 'I', 'want', 'taco', and then 'dinner'. When signing 'taco', make sure your dominant hand clearly taps into the cupped non-dominant hand.

2

Do you like tacos?

Point to the person for 'you', sign 'like', and then sign 'taco'. Remember to raise your eyebrows at the end to show you are asking a yes/no question.

3

Let's get tacos on Tuesday.

Sign 'Tuesday', then 'taco'. You can repeat the 'taco' sign's tapping motion slightly to indicate the plural 'tacos', or just sign it once depending on the flow of your sentence.

Frequently Asked Questions
Does it matter which hand is the taco shell?

Yes! In ASL, your non-dominant hand should act as the stationary base (the taco shell), while your dominant hand does the moving to represent the filling.

How do I sign 'tacos' if I mean more than one?

You can sign 'taco' and then add a sign like 'many', or you can simply repeat the motion of putting the filling into the shell a couple of times to indicate plurality.

Is the sign different if I am talking about a soft taco?

Generally, no. The same sign is used for both hard and soft tacos. The context of your conversation will usually let the other person know which type you are referring to.

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