Numbers in American Sign Language (ASL)
Learn the handshapes for counting in ASL, then see how numbers work in ages and everyday questions. The videos show age and amount expressions from the anysign dictionary. Their movement and palm direction can differ from standalone counting.
Count from 1 to 10
For standalone counting from 1 to 10, use your dominant hand. Palm direction is described from your perspective as the signer.
- 1 to 5: your palm faces you.
- 6 to 9: your palm faces out, and your thumb touches one finger. Start at the little finger for 6 and move toward the index finger for 9.
- 10: a thumbs-up with a small shake.
- 1Index finger up
- 2Index and middle finger up, spread apart
- 3Thumb, index and middle finger up
- 4Four fingers up, thumb tucked in
- 5All five fingers spread
- 6Thumb touches little finger
- 7Thumb touches ring finger
- 8Thumb touches middle finger
- 9Thumb touches index finger
- 10Thumbs-up, shaken slightly
Careful with 3: use your thumb, not your ring finger. The age videos use these handshapes in a different context: for ages 1 to 5, the palm faces outward rather than inward. Compare the age expressions
Sign your age
You can sign AGE followed by the number. For ages 1 to 9, the number can also be incorporated into the movement from the chin. You may see fluent signers incorporate larger ages too; follow the complete expression shown in each video.
Dictionary entries
Open in the dictionary (opens in a new tab).
- For ages 1 to 5, your palm faces out. This differs from the palm-in form used for standalone cardinal numbers 1 to 5.
- Try a short exchange: ask “How old are you?”, then use one of the age expressions below as the answer. Keep age practice separate from ordinary counting.
Everyday number signs
Ask about a quantity, describe an amount or use a larger number. Watch the whole expression, including the face and movement.
Dictionary entries
Open in the dictionary (opens in a new tab).
- Asking “how many?”: lower your eyebrows a little. In ASL, your face is part of the question.
- For a short conversation, choose “How many brothers do you have?” or “How many pets do you have?”, then answer with your own number. The number is a quantity here, not an age.
- 1st to 9th: sign the number and add a small twist of your wrist.
- Phone numbers: sign them in small groups with a short pause in between. Sign 911 digit by digit, 9-1-1. As 9 and 11, it can be read as September 11.
ASL number rules: orientation and movement
A number handshape is only part of the sign. Palm direction, movement and context tell you whether you are counting, giving an age or describing a quantity.
Palm orientation: counting and ages
For standalone cardinal numbers 1 to 5, the palm faces you; for ages 1 to 5, it faces outward. The palm also often faces outward in a string of digits, such as a phone number. Learn the orientation for the particular use rather than applying the counting rule everywhere.
For 6, 7, 8 and 9, the thumb meets the little, ring, middle and index finger respectively. Nine shares a handshape with the fingerspelled letter F; context distinguishes them. If you sign left-handed, use your left hand consistently and mirror the right-handed demonstration.
ASL numbers 11–20
For 11 to 15, the palm faces you. The fingers flick or bend, so a still handshape alone does not show the whole number. For 14, keep the thumb tucked in; for 15, the thumb is out.
A common form for 16 to 19 starts with the 6 to 9 handshape facing inward and twists it outward twice. You may also see 10 followed by 6, 7, 8 or 9. Twenty has its own form: the index finger and thumb close together twice.
ASL numbers 21–29
The twenties need separate attention: 21 and 22 have their own forms, and 23 to 29 use an L handshape for the twenty part rather than the ordinary 2 handshape. Follow a full movement demonstration when learning these forms.
ASL numbers 30–100: combinations and exceptions
Many two-digit numbers flow from the first digit into the second on one hand: 47 is a 4 becoming a 7. Doubles such as 33, 44 and 55 use a small bounce. Some combinations involving 6 to 9 use a sideways rocking movement, so the rule is not simply “sign every digit the same way.”
One common form for 100 is a 1 opening into a C. Larger numbers can use both hands: for example, the signing hand meets the other palm in a common form of THOUSAND.
Numbers inside time expressions
A number can be incorporated into a time sign: for example, a number handshape makes the movement of HOUR. Beginner lessons often introduce this through the “rule of 9,” but the limits depend on the particular sign. Learn each time expression in context rather than assuming every time word follows one rule.
Sources and further learning
Published by the Anysign team.
Practice recognizing ages in ASL
Watch the sign and pick the age you see.
Sign 1 / 3
Which age do you see?
Questions about ASL numbers
Do I sign numbers with one hand or two?
Use your dominant hand for the basic cardinal numbers 1 to 100. Larger numbers and some number expressions can use both hands; a common form of THOUSAND brings the signing hand to the other palm.
How do I sign 11 to 20 in ASL?
For 11 to 15, your palm faces you and your fingers flick or bend. For 16 to 19, many people sign 6 to 9 and twist the hand outward, others sign 10 and then the digit. Both are correct. 20 has its own sign: your index finger and thumb tap together twice.
Are ASL numbers the same everywhere?
Mostly, but not completely. Some numbers, like 16 to 19 and a few in the twenties, have more than one common form, depending on region and generation. A different form may be a valid variant. Ask a fluent signer about its context rather than assuming it is wrong.
Can I fingerspell numbers instead?
Use number signs to express a number. Fingerspelling represents the letters of a word; spelling T-W-O is different from giving the quantity two. Fingerspelling is useful for names and words in other contexts.
Put your number signs into a conversation
Keep practicing with a short lesson, explore the ASL learning guide or continue with video lessons in the anysign app. The dictionary remains free to use.
