Lessons
PocketSign
PocketSign

How to Sign "You Are Beautiful"

To sign 'you are beautiful,' start by pointing your index finger directly at the person you are talking to for 'you.' Next, for 'beautiful,' open your dominant hand with your fingers spread apart and place your thumb near your chin. Sweep your hand in a circular motion across your face, bringing your fingers together to meet your thumb in a flattened 'O' shape.

Examples Using "You Are Beautiful" in a Sentence

1

I think you are beautiful.

Point to yourself for 'I,' sign 'THINK' by tapping your index finger to your forehead, then point to the person and sign 'BEAUTIFUL' by sweeping your open hand across your face and closing it.

2

Wow, you are beautiful today!

Start with an expressive 'WOW,' sign 'YOU BEAUTIFUL,' and finish with 'TODAY' by bringing both 'Y' hands down twice. Make sure your facial expressions show genuine admiration.

3

You are a beautiful person.

Sign 'YOU BEAUTIFUL' as described, followed by the sign for 'PERSON,' which is made by bringing both flat hands straight down in front of your body to outline a figure.

How to Sign "You Are Beautiful"
To sign 'you are beautiful,' start by pointing your index finger directly at the person you are talking to for 'you.' Next, for 'beautiful,' open your dominant hand with your fingers spread apart and place your thumb near your chin. Sweep your hand in a circular motion across your face, bringing your fingers together to meet your thumb in a flattened 'O' shape.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
The sign for 'beautiful' is highly iconic and visually poetic. The open hand sweeping across the face represents taking in or highlighting the entirety of a person's face, which is the focal point of human beauty and expression. As the hand closes into a flattened 'O' shape, it symbolizes gathering or capturing that beauty into a single, cohesive concept. Combined with the direct point for 'you,' the phrase visually directs this appreciation straight to the receiver.
Signing Tips
When signing 'you are beautiful,' facial expressions are just as important as your hand movements. ASL relies heavily on non-manual markers, so make sure your face conveys genuine admiration, warmth, and sincerity. Keep the movement of the 'beautiful' sign smooth and fluid, allowing your hand to gracefully frame your face before closing. Remember that in ASL, state-of-being verbs like 'are' are dropped, so you only need to sign 'YOU' and 'BEAUTIFUL' to communicate the complete English phrase.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake beginners make is trying to sign the English word 'are.' In ASL, 'to be' verbs (am, is, are) are not used, so signing 'YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL' word-for-word is incorrect; simply sign 'YOU BEAUTIFUL.' Another frequent error is making the circular motion for 'beautiful' too far away from the face or using a rigid, robotic hand movement. Ensure your hand stays relatively close to your face, and let the fingers close naturally and smoothly into the flattened 'O' shape.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "You Are Beautiful" in a Sentence
1

I think you are beautiful.

Point to yourself for 'I,' sign 'THINK' by tapping your index finger to your forehead, then point to the person and sign 'BEAUTIFUL' by sweeping your open hand across your face and closing it.

2

Wow, you are beautiful today!

Start with an expressive 'WOW,' sign 'YOU BEAUTIFUL,' and finish with 'TODAY' by bringing both 'Y' hands down twice. Make sure your facial expressions show genuine admiration.

3

You are a beautiful person.

Sign 'YOU BEAUTIFUL' as described, followed by the sign for 'PERSON,' which is made by bringing both flat hands straight down in front of your body to outline a figure.

Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to sign the word 'are'?

No, you do not. ASL has its own distinct grammar and syntax, which typically omits 'to be' verbs like 'am,' 'is,' and 'are.' Simply signing 'YOU' followed by 'BEAUTIFUL' perfectly translates to 'you are beautiful.'

Can I use the 'beautiful' sign to describe objects or places?

Yes! The sign for 'beautiful' can be used to describe people, places, objects, or even abstract concepts like a beautiful idea or a beautiful day. Just change the first part of the phrase to point to or name what you are describing.

Does it matter which hand I use for 'beautiful'?

You should always use your dominant hand for one-handed signs like 'beautiful.' If you are right-handed, use your right hand to sweep across your face. Consistency with your dominant hand helps make your signing clearer and more natural.

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