How to Sign "They"

To sign 'they', turn the dominant hand so the palm is facing upwards and the fingers are pointed out. Bring all the fingers of the hand in, except for the index and middle fingers. Use the two fingers to gesture between the person that you are referring to.

Examples Using "They" in a Sentence

1

They are my best friends.

Use your dominant hand with the index and middle fingers extended to gesture toward the people you are talking about, then sign 'my' and 'friends'.

2

Are they coming to the party?

Raise your eyebrows to indicate a yes/no question. Use the upward-facing two-finger gesture to indicate 'they', then sign 'come' and 'party'.

3

I saw them at the store yesterday.

In ASL, 'they' and 'them' use the same sign. Point to yourself for 'I', sign 'see', use the two-finger gesture for 'them', and finish with 'store' and 'yesterday'.

How to Sign "They"
To sign 'they', turn the dominant hand so the palm is facing upwards and the fingers are pointed out. Bring all the fingers of the hand in, except for the index and middle fingers. Use the two fingers to gesture between the person that you are referring to.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
This specific variation uses the '2' or 'V' handshape to visually represent multiple people. By gesturing between them with these two fingers, you are physically grouping them together in your signing space, showing that the pronoun applies to them as a collective unit.
Signing Tips
To make your sign clear, ensure your palm is facing upwards and only your index and middle fingers are extended. The gesturing motion should smoothly sweep or point between the specific people you are referring to. If the people aren't in the room, you can establish them in a specific empty space in front of you and gesture toward that area.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is using only a single index finger, which is the general pronoun for 'he/she/it', instead of the index and middle fingers described here. Another mistake is turning the palm downward; make sure your palm stays facing up while you gesture.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "They" in a Sentence
1

They are my best friends.

Use your dominant hand with the index and middle fingers extended to gesture toward the people you are talking about, then sign 'my' and 'friends'.

2

Are they coming to the party?

Raise your eyebrows to indicate a yes/no question. Use the upward-facing two-finger gesture to indicate 'they', then sign 'come' and 'party'.

3

I saw them at the store yesterday.

In ASL, 'they' and 'them' use the same sign. Point to yourself for 'I', sign 'see', use the two-finger gesture for 'them', and finish with 'store' and 'yesterday'.

Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use this sign if the people aren't in the room?

Yes! In ASL, you can establish a location for people who aren't present by pointing to an empty space. When you want to refer to them later as 'they', simply use the two-finger gesture toward that same empty space.

Does it matter which hand I use to sign 'they'?

You should use your dominant hand for this sign. Turn your palm upwards, extend your index and middle fingers, and make the gesturing motion. Keep your non-dominant hand relaxed at your side.

What is the difference between signing 'they' and 'them'?

In ASL, the exact same sign is used for both 'they' and 'them'. You will use this upward-facing, two-finger gesturing motion regardless of whether the word is the subject or the object of your sentence.

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