Learning how to sign red in ASL gives your child a way to communicate before words arrive. “Red” points at the reddest thing on your face: your lips. A fingertip brushes down from the lower lip, and it is usually the first color sign toddlers learn.
How to Sign “Red” in ASL
Photos: Rodasmith via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Point: Extend your index finger.
- Touch below the lip: Rest the fingertip just under your lower lip.
- Brush down: Draw the finger down off the chin, bending it slightly as it goes.
The lips give the sign its meaning — several ASL color signs anchor to a body part of that color.
Step-by-Step Photos
Photos: Rodasmith via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
When to Use It With Your Child
- At red things: Apples, fire trucks, stop signs — sign it and point, every time.
- At snack time: Strawberries and tomatoes make tasty flashcards.
- In sorting play: “Find all the red blocks” with the sign as the instruction.
Tips for Success
- Teach one color at a time and let “red” be the only color sign for a few weeks.
- A finger bumped anywhere on the chin counts.
- Color recognition solidifies between 2 and 3 years — the sign can lead the concept by months.
Signs Related to “Red”
“Yellow” (a twisting Y-hand) and “orange” (a squeezing C at the chin) are good next colors. ASL color signs split into body-anchored ones like red and letter-based ones like yellow.
Red is consistently the first color name children learn in dozens of languages — the visual system simply finds red first.
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 red in ASL?
You can introduce the sign for red as early as 14–18 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 red?
Most babies begin producing a recognizable version of the sign for red 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 red the same in baby sign language programs?
Yes. Most baby sign language programs teach the authentic ASL sign for red. 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.