How to sign
Birthday in ASL
Birthday has several regional versions. A common one touches the middle finger of an open hand to the chin and then the chest, from BIRTH plus DAY, or the clip's regional form.
- Single sign
- One hand
- Holidays
How to sign birthday
- 1
Watch the clip for the version we filmed.
- 2
Note where it touches and in what order.
- 3
HAPPY BIRTHDAY is HAPPY followed by this sign.
Common mistakes
- Insisting on one version. Learn the one you see most locally.
Keep going
More holidays signs
Questions about “Birthday”
Yes. This clip shows the common ASL sign for birthday. Like spoken languages, ASL has regional variation, so you may see small differences from signer to signer.
Guide
Basic Phrases
The first phrases you actually use in a signed conversation: introductions, asking for help, saying you are learning, and keeping things polite. Real video for each one.
From the blog
The First 50 ASL Signs to Learn (and Why These 50)
A teacher-picked starter vocabulary: greetings, replies, pronouns, question words, and feelings that let you hold a real first conversation. Every sign on video.