How to Sign “How” in ASL: Baby Sign Language Guide

Learning how to sign how in ASL gives your child a way to communicate before words arrive. “How” rolls two curled hands open like revealing a secret. It is the last of the big question words toddlers acquire, and the start of “how are you?” — the world’s most useful sentence.

How to Sign “How” in ASL

ASL sign for how, step 1: bent hands with knuckles pressed together
ASL sign for how, step 2: hands rolled open until the palms face up

Photos: Rodasmith via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

  1. Curl the hands: Bend both hands and press the backs of the fingers together in front of you.
  2. Roll forward: Rotate both hands forward around each other.
  3. Open up: Finish with both palms facing up, as if presenting the answer.

The hands start closed and roll open — how something works, revealed. Pair it with raised eyebrows when asking “how about…?”

Step-by-Step Photos

ASL sign for how, step 1: bent hands with knuckles pressed together
Step 1: Press the backs of your bent fingers together, knuckle to knuckle.
ASL sign for how, step 2: hands rolled open until the palms face up
Step 2: Roll both hands forward and open until the palms face up.

Photos: Rodasmith via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

When to Use It With Your Child

  • At how-moments: “How does the door open?” Sign it, then show the mechanism slowly.
  • In greetings: “How are you?” with the sign each morning builds the phrase early.
  • At puzzles: Sign “how?” before demonstrating where the piece goes.

Tips for Success

  • This is a later sign — expect recognition long before production.
  • Two fists bumped and turned over counts as a toddler version.
  • Embed it in “how are you?” — phrases stick better than isolated late signs.

Signs Related to “How”

“Why” precedes it developmentally, and “what” is the gateway question sign to teach first. “How are you” plus “fine” or “happy” gives a toddler their first complete conversation.

“How” questions emerge last among the wh-words in child language — typically after age three in speech, though signing children often show comprehension far earlier.

More ASL Signs to Learn

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 how in ASL?

You can introduce the sign for how as early as 16–20 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 how?

Most babies begin producing a recognizable version of the sign for how 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 how the same in baby sign language programs?

Yes. Most baby sign language programs teach the authentic ASL sign for how. 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.



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