“OK” in ASL is exactly what it says: the letters O and K, fingerspelled quickly. It is a checking-in sign — are you OK? — that becomes more useful every month of toddlerhood.
How to Sign “OK” in ASL
Photos: Rodasmith via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Form the O: Curl your fingers and thumb into a circle.
- Shift to K: Pop your index and middle fingers up with the thumb between them.
- Blend them: Roll O into K in one quick motion, palm facing out.
Fingerspelled loan signs like O-K get smoothed by speed — signed fast, the two letters blur into a single word.
Step-by-Step Photos
Photos: Rodasmith via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
When to Use It With Your Child
- After tumbles: “Are you OK?” with the sign during the check-over.
- As agreement: Sign it as you grant a request — “OK, one more book.”
- As a check-in across the playground: Eye contact plus “OK?” works at distances words do not.
Tips for Success
- Toddler fingers can’t fingerspell precisely — accept any circle-then-fingers attempt.
- The thumbs-up gesture is a fine informal substitute toddlers find easier.
- Use it calmly after falls; a routine “OK?” check actually reduces crying theatrics.
Signs Related to “OK”
“Good” and “fine” (thumb of a 5-hand tapping the chest) are the nearby signs for answering the OK question. Loan signs from fingerspelling, like O-K and N-O, are a small but mighty corner of ASL.
“OK” entered ASL the same way it entered English — borrowed letter by letter, then worn smooth by a century of fast hands.