25 ASL Phrases You Need To Know | Sign Language For Beginners

Are you learning tons of signs and ready to put them to practice? In this video I'm teaching you ASL phrases you need to know. The best way to learn sign language is with others. Consider taking one of our courses or joining our membership program LHTS Accelerated and learn ASL while making friends.
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NAVIGATION
0:00 - Intro
0:24 - What's up? How are you?
0:37 - What is your name?
0:49 - My name is Sally. What's your name?
1:13 - How do you sign _____________?
1:36 - Do you mind writing it down?
1:49 - Are you learning ASL?
2:07 - Yes. I am learning ASL.
2:27 - I'm so excited I am learning ASL.
2:47 - Good job. Keep it up.
3:01 - Where do you live?
3:15 - I live in Texas.
3:29 - Where do you work?
3:48 - Where is the bathroom?
3:59 - The bathroom is over there.
4:09 - Are you hearing?
4:21 - Do you want help?
4:33 - Yes. You can help me.
4:45 - You can go and help Bob
4:59 - Do you understand.
5:11 - No. I don't understand.
5:28 - At the grocery store you need to buy apples, bread and eggs.
6:04 - Yes. Can you please sign that again?
6:21 - I'm hungry. Do you want to go to a restaurant?
6:47 - Thank you for signing slowly. Take care.
7:06 - I'm tired. Goodnight!
7:26 - Encouragement
#asl #learnasl #learnhowtosign

[@3Shades0fDumb]

Thank you there is deaf people at my school and I want to communicate with him ‘ cause they don’t have friends

[@LearnHowtoSign]

Thankful for people like you who want to make the effort to learn for others.

[@vanillinchillin743]

That is very kind 🥰

[@BlancaGarcia-qr9sb]

❤❤❤

[@monicabrady3766]

@@LearnHowtoSign 9th sk k🤔🤔

[@mentholmadge2939]

L

[@jjewellll]

im in 7th grade, and ive been on this channel for a couple months, its helped me learn a lot! its def a big goal of mine to learn asl

[@LearnHowtoSign]

So glad you are here!

[@karinrau2307]

I would love to know common swimming terms and phrases. My daughter wears hearing aides, so my family signs and uses verbal English at home. However, in certain situations, we rely solely on ASL...bathtime, swimming, loud/busy background sound places, bedtime, getting up in the morning etc. So for swimming, common phrases that I would say as a hearing person would be: Walk please, no running! Look at me underwater. Put your goggles on. Let's practice the backfloat. Ready, set....jump! Can you blow bubbles in the water? The lifeguard blew the whistle, we need to get out of the pool. Put your lifejacket on. Put your goggles on. Do you want to go in the deep end? THANKS! YOUR CONTENT HAS REALLY BENEFITED OUR FAMILY!

[@HazardTheSilly]

I am hearing impaired and I’m currently learning how to sign! This has been really useful!

[@KvnHcks]

I meet lots of HOH / deaf customers and had a deaf coworker for a long time. Knowing basic numbers and letters, W questions are really helpful

[@maryinsky]

If I ever get to use the little I know of ASL, I want to be able to say “I only know a very little-I’m an amateur”. I like a phrase I think I learned from you-I’m learning signing on the internet. But I’d like to add “a very little,” because I’m a rank beginner. Thanks for your pace and manner.

[@Nolongeruse930]

Thank you so much for creating this channel. I’ve learned so much and it’s really helping me with my ASL interpreter program. ❤

[@LearnHowtoSign]

Happy to support you on your interpreting journey! One of the best jobs!

[@Herlannah_ishere]

I try watching at least one of your videos everyday, because it’s really inspiring to me how people no matter the situation find a way to communicate. I want to be involved with all types of people - not everyone has someone to stand up for them or help them or simply talk to them, and I want to do that. A lot of deaf/hoh people get teased for their disability, And I find that disgusting. I can’t wait until I get to use ASL and hopefully are a new friend. Wish me luck🤞 😊

[@LearnHowtoSign]

Cheering you on!

[@raniyalikesthings]

I just want to say that your videos have been a huge help! I was at my school and i went into the cafeteria to get in something while i was waiting in line a woman was infront of me with her son and i told her that her son was cute and she just signed back that she was deaf. it was pretty easy to find out when your talking to a deaf person. suddenly something clicked in my brain and i introduced myself in ASL and the look on her face was worth it. i probably said something wrong but she was happy that i tried :)

[@elizabetholiviaclark]

Thank you for having this channel. I actually sign already. I studied at Gallaudet, but that was many years ago, and before the advent of home computers. I was totally immersed in the deaf community for a few years, but there is an entire sub-language, so to speak, related to computers that I don't know. I haven't really sought out the company of deaf people just to sign, either, but of course, it does come up every now and again when I run into a deaf person and there's a legitimate reason to converse. For that reason, I want to catch up now, but this is really too basic for me. I'm not sure where to look to match my level of understanding of ASL. I don't know if all of that makes sense.

[@LearnHowtoSign]

How amazing that you studied at Gallaudet. Go check out learnhowtosign.org where we have our Accelerated program. We offer classes but also a community of signers that might help you in challenging yourself!

[@elizabetholiviaclark]

@@LearnHowtoSign I will do that! Thank you for the info. I'm studying Spanish as well, so this should be an interesting experience in my head. I'm afraid I'm going to speak Spanish with ASL grammar or vice-versa. Who knows what's going to happen to my English. lol Edit: I didn't think to say anything about Gallaudet. This was in the late 70s, and Gallaudet was still a college. I just happened to come from the DC area, and signed up for the beginning class just for fun, just to introduce myself to ASL. I didn't have any idea that I would end up staying in that program and becoming immersed in that community. It was just going to be the one course. I made good friends there, some hearing, some deaf, and it was one of the best experiences of my life. I am also hearing impaired myself, and over the course of time that has gotten worse. Now, I wish everybody signed (darn it). And stopped covering their mouths when they talk, etc. You know the drill. ha ha

[@debradowner8761]

You're way of teaching is ideal for hearing beginngers. I've only started to retain signs after watching your videos.

[@Cybergrip1]

These are great, many thanks! I like the wordless slow motion to help internalize the words or phrases. Love learning.

[@adedoyin8428]

I’m not deaf but I always wanted to learn asl so this is wonderful thankyou so much☺️

[@puppiesrus5830]

I am hard of hearing. I started wearing hearing aids at 28 yrs old and I'm now 35 yrs old. I decided to start learning how to sign because my hearing has gotten worse over the years. My favorite videos are where you are signing as you are talking. I would like the videos where you are teaching the signs for you to sign while talking. Being able to sign is 1 thing but being able to read it is another so I look at the signs while you are talking to help me either with signs I don't know yet or to point out signs I do know. I finished the 150 essential signs and the routines video but I'm running out of videos to learn that is teaching me new things and there is a lot I don't know so maybe videos to help fill in the gaps would be awesome too

[@benbrown8258]

This is VERY helpful. Its been decades since seeing my Deaf friends. I'm about to meet up with a local Deaf group and this is the best concise video to help me start to remember asl. Thank you. I may indeed become a member.

[@miah5574]

You making learning super easy! Working in a supermarket, I want to do my due diligence to make sure I can give every customer my best service!

[@gardeniagirl1374]

I never saw DO YOU MIND until this video. Thank you, Meredith for a new sign... again ✌🏼

[@oparaugochika6416]

Hello ma'am I am a Nigerian learning how to sign I love your videos I have learnt alot from it weldone ma....

[@CharlotteHuUSMC]

My 6yo 1st grader randomly decided she wanted to learn sign language. no idea why. So we are watching (not me) and listening to your videos when we drive. Fun!

[@gilliankrueger7087]

We love you! Learning asl with my kids for our homeschool class and we love you the most! Thank you so very much for all of your help. Looking into your online class for next year. ~Kylie, Kane and Gillian!

[@robertlockhart1836]

I've been learning asl from u tube for awhile.. And ,Last yr I had to use it to communicate with a person that was partially deaf or so.. It was a great feeling.

[@reisun6894]

This is the perfect pace for me to learn, thanks!

[@carmen68mb]

Gracias!!! Tus vídeos son de mucha ayuda para mi. I love learning sing language...ASL😍

[@mcsingleton]

Why is no one talking about these outfit changes🤣Love your videos! Thank you!!

[@RoseOfTheValley13]

This channel has been so helpful! Thank you for making a useful phrases video! It really helps me understand the grammar in every day conversation as well

[@desertlivingmama7]

you have the best channel for beginner signers everrrrrrr! i love your channel so much ❤❤❤❤😁

[@serialdes1gnati0n..v]

i love these. I’ve only watched 3 videos and i know how to do most of them! thanks!

[@MarcGriffies]

Started ASL when I was 40...Now I am 72 and still not mastered in ASL. This channel is what I need!

[@judithlehman8285]

Thank you for your videos especailly the slow motion linked to the word.

[@starl.1787]

I learned my new longest sentence in ASL on this channel! 100% recommend!

[@tomference4618]

..great and practical phrases, I will be very earnest to keep up with practice. Thank you!

[@user-bf1fn4ei1t]

I learned so many cool signs thank yo for being free!!!!!

[@noticiasnc]

Gracias Excelente curso

[@ammrro]

I love this. Thank you!!!

[@YT-User1013]

She has great videos.

[@LearnHowtoSign]

You are so welcome!

[@SharonAtoo-rr3nt]

You are really gifted,keep it up

[@bettyjorodgers8552]

Thank you.

[@Rainbow2dcore]

Wow very well done! Thank you. I have some family members that I want to communicate with ASL. 💙

[@nataliehicks4853]

Thank you so much.your vid make my daughter happy beacuse she all ways want to do sight language.

[@lesmontgomery7]

Thanks for helping me learn

[@anewabashir3377]

Hello thank you for teaching me how to sign I been wanting to learn sign language for a long time now and when I found your channel I knew I could learn. Thank you now I know how to sign some words and I been practicing.

[@LearnHowtoSign]

Happy to help!

[@3BsART]

I had a question. So my do aint hand is my right but I sign better and more comfortable with my left is that okay? Sometime I switch between both hands like I do numbers with my right and signs with left.

[@RB-jh1uk]

I've seen several vids say you can use either hand but you should stick to one or the other, as switching could be confusing.

[@user-xc4np4xw8p]

Teacher is amazing! Great ! Very pleasant and nice to watch, only one request: reduce music background ,it's too loud, disturbing to watch! Thanks!

[@michaelwalling8281]

Meredith has to be the quintessential ASL instructor. I could listen to her at .25 speed for hours

[@ursinha115]

Thank you!!!!!!

[@wynnezeigler5465]

Thank you so much for the videos that you put out! I randomly wanted to learn a new language and I thought ASL looked really cool, so I started looking up how to learn sign language and now I want to be a deaf interpreter when I grow up! Can't wait for your next video!!

[@materialgurl9138]

my friends want to learn sign language with me i am so gonna recommend u!

[@tracytyson]

Thanks

[@stephenmalcome3797]

Thanks!

[@LearnHowtoSign]

THANK YOU!

[@judylynlegaspina1623]

Thanks ❤️

[@nataliehicks4853]

Your vid make the world to me and my daughter

[@KristieDawn_]

I'm really confused by some of the phrasing! Like "What is your name?" You sign, "you name what you?". I'm seeing others phrase it differently, "your name what?", "what your name?". (and signing "your" instead of "you") There seems to be a lot of variations of the same thing. In the end, does it matter exactly how to sign the phrase if you're still being understood? The way different languages phrase things is a tough thing for me, I never did well learning French in school because of it.. I just never got that part! And now I'm feeling nervous about this too, how do I know what order of words go in specific phrases?! Either way, I'm still very happy so far! I've learned more ASL in the past 3 days than I ever thought I would in 3 days! It's usually hard for me to catch on to things and it feels like I'm catching on quick with ASL! It's actually been a while since I've felt thing passionate about something. Thank you for your videos I definitely want to keep this motivation moving!

[@kathemorris4671]

Can you provide a video signing states like you did with Texas? Thank you Kathe

[@dinagloriosa4287]

❤❤❤thanks

[@NoewerrATall]

Could you do an Internet/computers/technology signs and sentences video, please?

[@20thPaul]

Very helpful video, thank you! I actually have one question regarding signing order. You signed "do you want help?" as "you help want you?" I am wondering why "help" is before "want" in this case. Is it because "help" is a noun in this instance? And if you changed the signing order to "you want help you?" would that change the meaning of the sentence? Thank you again! Your videos have been very helpful!

[@LearnHowtoSign]

ASL follows a topic comment structure. The topic is help and commenting if the person wants it. Of course those, it can be understood with you want help you. ASL does have flexibility and the meaning isn't lost if you flipped it.

[@annal.6117]

Do you have any tips to distinguish between GOOD and THANK YOU? I know they're virtually the same but was curious as to how you sign them differently.

[@RB-jh1uk]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong please, but I'm pretty sure it's just a matter of context. Ex. If you hand someone a bottle of water they're probably signing thank you. If you ask them how their day went, they're probably signing good.

[@jasminethornburg2101]

Thank you only has one hand while good uses both

[@OnlyAbriS]

Thank you= only one hand Good= that same hand in thank you but it comes down and meets the other flat hand

[@am-dv3ks]

I thought the sign for Texas was interesting, is there a video on how to sign all the different states? I would've guessed we just spell it out

[@LearnHowtoSign]

We have a 50 States in 3 minutes video! Several are abbreviations but Texas is one of the few that has a sign.

[@hannahray5912]

Cam you make a video about ASL Idioms?

[@Coolienath]

Dang so Cookie Monster actually spoke/speaks ASL! 😮❤

[@luismunoz90.]

On the what's your name part, do you double tap your fingers (to say "name"). It looks like at one point you did it but then you don't

[@littlehimbo]

I have recently decided that I want to learn sign - as to spend my time on my phone for productive purposes. Also so that I can be more inclusive to others who rely on ASL. I’ve really been enjoying your videos - and have watched others recently, as well. But I have noticed different signing across videos. My two questions are; is it normal to say “you” at start and end of questions to others (e.g: you name what you) or is it also okay to say it without you at the end(e.g: you name what)? Cause in other videos they didn’t include the ending you.

[@littlehimbo]

My second question: when you signed how do you sign, you signed it as “sign ____ how”. But in other videos I’ve seen “____ sign how”. Is the one more formal or correct? Or are both acceptable? I feel like both my questions kind of have the same underlining issues, and I’m ideally going to do them properly first off, then learn and then unlearn the habits. Thanks so much and appreciate all the help in learning ✌️

[@littlehimbo]

Now seeing it is “sign ____ what” in your video, which is very different then “____ sign how”. Appreciate the patience and replies 🙏

[@linseyc.6602]

Do you have an app that teaches people geared towards, dogs, kids, ect?

[@jescarose1]

Hello Im learning to sigh for children who can hear but cant talk. I need to learf basic phrases like hunrgy, thirsty, water, food hot, cold, i need help, and do you need help, do you feel ok, are you hurt,

[@glendatrinidad7888]

Could you do how to sign states in the US?

[@offsewingdragons9142]

Id like to add that in asl its grammatically acceptable to say “you” at the beginning and end of the sentence or just at the beginning. Example: English: i want food. Asl: i want food i. want food. i want food.

[@jennielenniss3552]

I have a question? How do you make things plural with ASL like with the word “cat” or “dog”

[@creinicke1000]

I'm seeing the what, how, action.. to be at end in sign.. is that a general rule?

[@karenavila4883]

❤ ASL

[@user-nw6xl8yv3p]

I want to learn more about health care

[@nshimyumukizamartin7474]

Hello Meredith, i really want a talk with you. Is that possible? Martin from Rwanda. Tks

[@rickygonzalez6425]

Kitchen phrases please

[@danielleg.7677]

Every other asl video I googled “what is your name” not one ended with saying the word over again. It was a simple “what is your name” why do you add more words at the end? Thanks! 😊

[@sabrinaberryh3848]

Im struggling with putting ASL structure sentences with “ Regular English “ sentences. I feel like its broken language and im chopping so many words out. Or speaking backwards

[@YT-User1013]

Is asking, “Your name what?” using the palm “your” instead of , “You name what you?” valid?

[@LearnHowtoSign]

Yes, ASL grammar is flexible. These phrases have other variations.

[@YT-User1013]

@@LearnHowtoSign okay, thx

[@LisaMoad]

I haven’t seen it explained yet but when you spell asl you are moving your hand in a slow circle.

[@londawhitt6841]

😊👍👍

[@susannahethington1855]

How would you sign “what do you want to do?”

[@Just_me_adam40]

How do you sign "I miss you" and "you made it"

[@chontellaallen8490]

I'm thirsty, may I have a glass of water?

[@psalm1dan]

Im a newbie...why do you begin and end some sentences with the same word?

[@rebelape4257]

Some of this sounds very caveman like "You name what you" Is similar to " me Tarzan you Jane" Is this default or does this improve as time goes by

[@alfdashowstopper2704]

Yes I know it’s 2:30 am, but… wouldn’t it be “MY name S A L L Y” not “ME name S A L L Y?” Can it be either really? Or is this just for beginners?

[@tiffh2411]

It's actually quite formal to use the "me" and "you" at the end of every sentence if you have already used it already. You like my dress, you? No. Like my dress, you? Okay You like my dress? (while holding last sign and eyebrows down then drop when other person starts to respond). Yes. Just speaking from personal experience with other deaf people as I am also deaf. Great job otherwise tho.

[@jessicamcaleer9114]

Why is it "me excited learn ASL me" and not "me excited ASL learn me"? I've watched so many of the videos on this channel but I'm still having such a hard time picking up on the grammar...

[@jenmurello8561]

That is not a proper asl! That's more of SEE, id b annoyed if someone was to sign like that to me, im a coda so i do know asl, and to this day its changing etc

[@coletteloudin8881]

your mom