How to Sign "We"

to sign we, press all the fingers of your dominant hand together into a ball shape. leave the index finger out, as if you are pointing at something. bring the hand up, and with the index finger pointed downwards, press the edge of the hand without the finger out to the chest side closest to the dominant hand. then, bring the hand out and across the chest to touch the other side, rotating the hand in the process so the index finger touches the chest.

Examples Using "We" in a Sentence

1

We are going to the store.

Sign 'we' by sweeping your hand from the dominant side of your chest to the non-dominant side, then sign 'go' and 'store'.

2

Can we help you?

Start with the sign for 'we' across your chest, then move both hands forward to sign 'help' toward the person you are addressing, raising your eyebrows for a yes/no question.

3

We love learning ASL.

Begin with the sweeping motion for 'we', followed by the signs for 'love', 'learn', and fingerspelling 'A-S-L'.

How to Sign "We"
to sign we, press all the fingers of your dominant hand together into a ball shape. leave the index finger out, as if you are pointing at something. bring the hand up, and with the index finger pointed downwards, press the edge of the hand without the finger out to the chest side closest to the dominant hand. then, bring the hand out and across the chest to touch the other side, rotating the hand in the process so the index finger touches the chest.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
The sign for 'we' is highly visual and intuitive. By using the index finger, which is the standard handshape for pointing to specific people, you are essentially pointing to yourself and then sweeping outward to include others, bringing everyone together into one collective group.
Signing Tips
Focus on the fluid rotation of your wrist. Start by pressing the edge of your hand against your dominant side, keeping that index finger pointed down. As you sweep across your chest to the non-dominant side, smoothly rotate your hand so the index finger makes the final contact with your chest.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is using a flat hand instead of an extended index finger. A flat hand sweeping across the chest means 'our' rather than 'we'. Another mistake is forgetting to rotate the wrist, which makes the sweeping motion across the chest look stiff and unnatural.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "We" in a Sentence
1

We are going to the store.

Sign 'we' by sweeping your hand from the dominant side of your chest to the non-dominant side, then sign 'go' and 'store'.

2

Can we help you?

Start with the sign for 'we' across your chest, then move both hands forward to sign 'help' toward the person you are addressing, raising your eyebrows for a yes/no question.

3

We love learning ASL.

Begin with the sweeping motion for 'we', followed by the signs for 'love', 'learn', and fingerspelling 'A-S-L'.

Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'we' and 'us' in ASL?

In ASL, 'we' and 'us' are typically signed the exact same way. You use the same sweeping motion with your index finger across your chest regardless of whether the word functions as a subject or an object in English.

Should I use my right or left hand to sign 'we'?

Always use your dominant hand. If you are right-handed, start on the right side of your chest and sweep to the left. If you are left-handed, start on the left side of your chest and sweep to the right.

How is 'we' different from 'our'?

While the sweeping movement across the chest is very similar, the handshape changes the meaning. 'We' uses a pointing index finger, while 'our' uses a flat, open hand with the fingers together to indicate possession.

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