“Hello” is the friendliest first sign there is. It is a relaxed salute that arcs away from the forehead, and because greetings happen many times a day, babies see it constantly.
How to Sign “Hello” in ASL
Photos: Rodasmith via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Make the handshape: Hold your hand flat, fingers together, like the start of a salute.
- Touch near your forehead: Bring the hand to the side of your forehead, palm angled out.
- Arc outward: Sweep the hand away from your head in a small friendly arc.
A casual wave also means hello in ASL — the salute version is the more formal greeting, and toddlers usually blend the two.
Step-by-Step Photos
Photos: Rodasmith via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
When to Use It With Your Child
- At every greeting: Sign it when anyone arrives — repetition at the door does the teaching.
- With stuffed animals: March teddy in the door and have him “sign” hello.
- At drop-off: A signed hello to the caregiver gives your toddler a confident ritual.
Tips for Success
- Pair it with the spoken word and a smile every single time.
- Any hand flap near the head counts at first.
- Add “bye-bye” (a plain wave) the same week — arrivals and departures teach in pairs.
Signs Related to “Hello”
“Welcome / nice to meet you” and “how are you” build on hello as toddlers get older. The salute origin comes from military greetings, softened over time into the casual arc used today.
Greeting signs are among the most-recognized ASL signs by the hearing public, so a toddler who signs hello gets waves back almost everywhere.