Learn American Sign Language, one friendly sign at a time
Look up 700+ signs on real video for free, start with the alphabet, and practice sign language a few minutes a day in the Ziggy app.
Free ASL dictionary
Look up any sign in American Sign Language
700+ ASL signs and phrases, each filmed by a real signer. Slow it down, read how it's made, and search by word or topic.
Sign of the day
Tuesday
From Weekdays. One of 727 signs filmed by real signers. New one every day.
Learn this sign
Learn
Learn ASL for beginners, step by step
The ASL alphabet, numbers, greetings, and your first phrases, in the order a teacher would teach them.
Learn from real video
Every sign is taught with clear, real video — hands, face, and movement all easy to see. No stick figures, no guesswork.
A path that always knows what's next
One tap and you're learning. Your path picks up right where you left off, so you never wonder what to do today.
Progress that feels good to keep
Streaks, little celebrations, and signs you can actually use — you'll see yourself getting better week by week.
Why Ziggy is the friendliest ASL app
Video-first ASL
Learn from real signing, not diagrams.
Short daily sessions
Lessons fit into a coffee break.
Progress you can see
Every day adds up — and it shows.
From the blog
Tips for learning ASL as a beginner
Questions about learning American Sign Language
What's the fastest way to learn ASL?
Short daily practice beats long occasional sessions. A few minutes a day with real video, reviewing signs you actually use, is what sticks. Ziggy's lessons are built around exactly that.
Can I learn ASL on my own?
Yes. Real video replaces a lot of what a classroom gives you: the handshape, the movement, and the facial expression. A free dictionary plus daily practice gets most beginners conversational at a basic level.
How long does it take to learn ASL?
Useful everyday signs take a few weeks of daily practice. Holding a simple conversation usually takes several months. Fluency is measured in years, the same as any language.
Is ASL hard to learn?
The first signs are easy and satisfying. What takes time is grammar, which is not English word order, and facial expression, which carries meaning. Both are teachable and both are in the lessons.
Is sign language universal?
No. American Sign Language is its own language, used in the US and much of Canada. British Sign Language is different, and most countries have their own. ASL and English share a country, not a grammar.
What are the first signs to learn?
Start with the alphabet, then hello, thank you, please, yes, no, and your name. Those cover introductions, which is where every real conversation starts.
Does Duolingo have ASL?
No. Duolingo does not offer American Sign Language. Ziggy is built only for ASL, with Duolingo-style daily lessons and real video of every sign instead of illustrations.
What's the best app to learn sign language?
Our pick for beginners learning ASL is Ziggy (we make it, so we're biased): short daily video lessons with real signers, a learning path, and spaced review. Lingvano suits a longer structured course, The ASL App is a one-time purchase, and SignSchool is free. Our full comparison covers all of them.
Is Ziggy free?
The dictionary, beginner guides, and sign-your-name tool on this site are free, with no sign-up. The Ziggy app is a subscription, and you can start with a free trial.
Comparing apps? See the best apps to learn sign language. More answers in the beginner guides and the blog.
Learn your first ASL sign in two minutes
Start your free trial and sign your first word today. Ziggy will be thrilled you showed up.