Explore, discover, and learn sign language

ASL Sign Language | Handspeak

From beginners to advanced learners, discover all you need for ASL learning. For fluent and native signers, explore and master ASL and bilingualism. This website/webapp HandSpeak® is a popular, go-to online resource for sign language and Deaf culture in North America for language learning, practice, tutorials and self-study for:

  • college students and learners
  • language and culture enthusiasts
  • interpreters, homeschoolers
  • parents of deaf children and deaf/hearing babies
  • professionals
  • deaf bilinguals and codas

Handwave! I'm Jolanta, the creator of this web app/site since 1995. Very long time, yes! It has been made with endless personal volunteer time, effort, and heart. I hope you will find this sign language resource helpful with your language learning in American Sign Language.

art of signer fingerspelling ASL

25/30th Anniversary

🎉 HandSpeak® is marking its 25/30 year milestone. It began in the pioneering days of the early Internet and has grown through decades of change. It's fulfilling to see this web app continues to support many signers and learners. 🎉

Get this web app for direct access with a quick tap.

Word Search

Search tips

Filter: Enter a keyword in the filter field box to see a list of available words with the "All" selection. Click on the page number if needed. Click on the blue link to look up the word. For best result, enter a partial word to see variations of the word.

Screenshot of dictionary search with notes
Screenshot of the search dictionary

Alphabetical letters: It's useful for 1) a single-letter word (such as A, B, etc.) and 2) very short words (e.g. "to", "he", etc.) to narrow down the words and pages in the list.

Screenshot of dictionary search with notes
Screenshot of the search dictionary

Don't forget to click "All" back when you search another word with a different initial letter.

Topic/Tutorial Search

Browse posts on sign language and Deaf culture.

Sign of the Day

Guess what the ASL word mean? See English translation. Explore this word in the dictionary.

First 100+ Signs for beginners.
What does the ASL sign mean? Reverse Dictionary

Fingerspelling of the Week 🔒

What does it say? Hover over to see the word. Take me to the page.

Try fingerspelling practice to improve your receptive skill.
New to fingerspelling? Learn the ASL alphabet.

Kid Signing of the Week

The video shows a baby signing the ASL word MILK in the early language acquisition (handshape, location, and movement).

Sentence of the Week 🔒

To get started for a new learner, learn how to sign "How are you?".

Browse some phrases and sentences to gain insights into how grammar, structure and meaning are constructed in ASL and learn how to express them in ASL.

Story Video

Trivia Question

What is sign language?

  • A) It is universal.
  • B) It is a substitute of speech.
  • C) It is a set of gestures.
  • D) None of the above.
  • E) All of the above.
  • Speech and signing are two possible "vehicles" or containers for language. Learn what sign language is and is not.

~~ Feeling lucky? ¯\__(°_o)__/¯ Random Word ~~

ASL Numbers

Take a peek what the ASL number is: number.

Learn how to sign numbers 1 to 100.

ASL Writing

SORRY

Guess what the ASL written word mean? Take a peek. Take me to this word.

Disclaimer [?]

Disclaimer: Written digits of the ASL words are unofficial and they may evolve over time. The purpose is for exploration and discovery only.

Grammar tip

Native and fluent signers look at the configuration (form, movement, and pattern) of a fingerspelled word, not letter by letter. Practice your receptive skill in fingerspelling. Fingerspelling exercise

Signed languages are distinct from spoken languages with their own grammar, structure, and vocabulary. They also include intonation (i.e. facial expressions) and encompasses every linguistic feature found in spoken languages.

"Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going." -- Rita Mae Brown

~~ Feeling lucky? ¯\__(°_o)__/¯ Random Word ~~

Sign Language App

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What is Sign Language?

Sign language is a natural, full-fledged language in visual-spatial modality. It has all the features of linguistics from phonology and morphology to syntax as found in spoken language. Signed languages are not a universal language; sign languages, such as British Sign Language (BSL) and French Sign Language (LSF), are distinct languages throughout the world.

American Sign Language (ASL) is the primary language of Deaf people in Deaf communities and Deaf families across the United States and Canada. It's also a fast-growing. popular second language or foreign language for hearing people in North America. Like other languages, ASL has its regional variations.

Language learning

Bilingualism has a number of cognitive benefits. Find out what benefits are for learning sign language. In addition to the benefits of bilingualism, bimodalism and Deafhood also have some extra benefits.

Explore some ways on how to get started with learning sign language.

Deaf community and Deaf culture

Where there is language, there is culture; sign language and Deaf culture are inseparable. Learning sign language and Deaf culture comes with the process of allyship along with awareness toward appreciation and away from cultural appropriation and audism (alliteration, yay!).

Deaf community comprises Deaf people, codas (children of Deaf parents), hard-of-hearing signers, and hearing signers and allies.

Linguistics

Sign language has every linguistic feature from phonology and morphology to syntax as found in spoken language. Numerous studies show that signed languages and spoken languages are equal languages, despite different modalities (visual-spatial and vocal-auditory). They function in the same linguistic regions of the brain. Language acquisition from birth to kindergarten are on the similar timeline.

Testimonials

The sign language site is one of few most reliable resources and references highly recommended by Deaf native signers, including ASL instructors.

"Even though I'm Deaf with ASL as my native language, I still use Handspeak a lot in the last few years for reference. I also frequently recommended this website to hearings/ASL students I met. It's amazing how you contributed so much, so I just want to let you know how much I appreciate that. -- Theo, 2020."