How to sign
Don't Know in ASL
'I don't know' is the KNOW sign (fingertips at the forehead) flipping away from the head, with a head shake. One sign, whole sentence.
- Phrase
- One hand
- Handshape: Bent flat hand
- Forehead, flipping outward
- Quick Replies
- ASL Phrases
How to sign don't know
- 1
Touch the fingertips of a bent flat hand to the side of your forehead (that's KNOW).
- 2
Flip the hand outward so the palm faces away from you.
- 3
Shake your head and shrug slightly.
Common mistakes
- Leaving the hand at the forehead. That's KNOW, the opposite of what you mean.
Questions about “Don't Know”
"Don't Know" is signed as a single unit in ASL rather than word-for-word from English.
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
How Long Does It Take to Learn ASL? An Honest Timeline
What you can realistically sign after one week, one month, six months, and two years of ASL, and the daily habits that move you between those stages faster.