How to sign
No in ASL
No snaps the index and middle fingers down onto the thumb, like a mouth closing, with a head shake. The head shake is part of the sign.
- Single sign
- One hand
- Handshape: Index and middle fingers extended with thumb
- In front of shoulder
- Quick Replies
How to sign no
- 1
Extend the index and middle fingers together, with the thumb out.
- 2
Snap the two fingers down to meet the thumb, once or twice.
- 3
Shake your head as you do it.
Common mistakes
- Flat face and still head. The head shake carries the grammar.
Use it in a sentence
English sentences you can sign with No. In ASL the word order can shift and filler words drop away.
- “No, not today.”
Questions about “No”
NO is the reply word, like answering a question. NOT (a thumb flicking out from under the chin) negates a verb inside a sentence. Beginners can get by with NO plus a head shake.
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.