Learning how to sign go in ASL gives your child a way to communicate before words arrive. “Go” is pure motion — and toddlers are pure motion, so they love it. Both index fingers swing toward wherever you are headed, usually learned between 12 and 18 months.
How to Sign “Go” in ASL
Photos: Rodasmith via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Make the handshape: Point both index fingers up, other fingers closed.
- Hold them up: Keep both hands in front of you at chest height.
- Swing toward the destination: Bend both fingers so they point the way you are going, with a small forward motion.
The fingers aim at the destination — sign “go” toward the door, the park, or the bath, and the direction carries meaning.
Step-by-Step Photos
Photos: Rodasmith via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
When to Use It With Your Child
- Before transitions: “Time to go!” with the sign gives toddlers a few seconds to switch gears.
- In ready-set-go games: Hold the pause, then sign GO as the race starts — the best drill there is.
- In the car seat: Sign it as the car starts moving.
Tips for Success
- Ready-set-go games create dozens of happy repetitions in minutes.
- Whole-arm pointing counts; precision comes later.
- Pair it with “stop” so the two ends of movement arrive together.
Signs Related to “Go”
“Stop” (the edge of one hand chopping into the other palm) is the essential partner, and “where” often follows as toddlers ask where you are going. Direction-based signs like “go” introduce how ASL uses space for grammar.
“Go” ranks in the top 25 most frequent words in toddler spoken vocabularies — signing it simply gets there a few months earlier.
Learn more: National Association of the Deaf — ASL resources and advocacy from the National Association of the Deaf.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I start teaching my baby how to sign go in ASL?
You can introduce the sign for go as early as 12–16 months. Babies understand signs before they can produce them, so start modeling it consistently and reward any attempt — even an approximation — with the item or action right away.
How long does it take for a baby to learn to sign go?
Most babies begin producing a recognizable version of the sign for go within two to four weeks of consistent daily modeling. Frequency matters more than perfect form at this stage — sign it every time the word comes up naturally in your routine.
Is the ASL sign for go the same in baby sign language programs?
Yes. Most baby sign language programs teach the authentic ASL sign for go. Using real ASL rather than invented gestures means your child’s signs will be understood by Deaf signers and build a foundation for learning more ASL as they grow.