WH-question signs and sentences with WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, and HOW in American Sign Language

FREE BONUS GUIDE: aslmeredith.com/wh-words In this video: First, learn the American Sign Language signs for the words WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, and HOW, including common variations of each. Then, see seven (7!) practice sentences at varied speeds so you can practice understanding, and then copy to practice signing.
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to review the words and grammar used for these types of questions:
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[@amiethomas1337]

I love how she takes her time and shows the signing in different angles and explains the different variations there can be. I’ve been trying to learn so my non verbal son and I can communicate better. There are no sign language classes or teachers in my area so finding Meredith has been great!

[@ASLMeredith]

Hi Amie, thank you so much for this encouraging feedback! I'm so glad you find the pace and format of my videos helpful for learning. Keep signing! :)

[@EmilyMarie0909]

I am going to school for cosmetology, so I was wondering if you could sign some beauty products like Curling iron, straightener, makeup, face wash, mascara, etc.

[@enoch3874]

I thought when I read your comment you were taking cosmology for school, knee slapper funny lol

[@Peregrine151]

A friend of mine asked me to teach her ASL -- 40 years ago I used to volunteer for a local school for the hearing impaired. It's been so long that I wanted to brush up. I love the fact that you showed the older ways to sign some of the WH words...it was nice to know I hadn't forgotten them. I sent her the link. Thanks so much!!!

[@zoyafazal6822]

I really appreciate the practice sentences at the end, it really helps to actively recall so I can learn the signs better. Thank you so much for your videos, Meredith!

[@ASLMeredith]

Thank you for the kind comment! I'm so glad you appreciated these practice sentences!

[@suzanner9268]

I so appreciate you showing the variations on signs! I am new to learning ASL from deaf teachers via online classes and when I converse with people in ASL outside of class, I sometimes get confused because of the variation in signs. You showing the different ways each sign may be used/shown is so helpful! At first I thought I had maybe remembered "why" and "who" wrong because I only knew one way. Thank you for your slow, methodical and thorough examples and teaching! It's so great! I will continue to study with you and my other deaf teachers to make sure I get a fully rounded education!

[@MystyZork]

Practice scentances at the end are super helpful! Hope you do more of those with future videos

[@catrinaverdone7664]

Sentences. No disrespect. Just letting you know so that you can edit if you want.

[@anniemannie6]

@@catrinaverdone7664 I can feel how you felt quite scared while correcting her/him that he would call you a grammar nazi or something, so you wrote "no disrespect...." Lol

[@mackdarwinian8054]

Oh yes, thank you so very much once again. I was using two fingers for the who sign. Good thing people i sign don't know any better. hehe

[@ASLMeredith]

Glad it helps!

[@kellycronk3022]

Meridith, the voice overs, explained variations between examples are 🔑, for older learners. 😊 ty.

[@ASLMeredith]

Thanks, Kelly! I'll keep it up for ya :)

[@ruthrussell1036]

Thank So Much Miss Meredith, this has become soo helpful to me, whenever I'm confused on a certain sign that I don't know the sign to, I just click on your site and BANG! it's there! 😊🤗👭🤟

[@ASLMeredith]

:) ;) thanks, Ruth! Glad it helps

[@TVHouseHistorian]

I NEED THESE VIDEOS. I work as a city bus driver, and come in contact with *everyone* in society. Over the years, I’ve noticed that people within the deaf community seem to have a sense of feeling lost, or at least not part of general society. I don’t know that this is true for each and every one of them, but I’ve made it my mission to make flash cards from an old book I’ve had for decades by Elaine Costello and study ASL vocabulary that way. I know the signs are old, and at first glance ANYONE can plainly see that I’m not fluent in ASL, but that doesn’t matter to me. Just to be able to see the relief come over a deaf person’s face when they discover we can have a conversation together means the world to me. Some of the signs I know are old, and I am not proficient, but the fact that someone from the hearing community is making some sort of effort must be meaningful to them, so I press on.

[@sarahms0]

I keep referring back to this video -- anytime I need clarification I come to find your videos specifically on KZbin!! thank you so much for your clear, thorough, and easy to understand teaching. You're fantastic!

[@user-sf9ok8rw1c]

Love love LOVE that you places these in their own category! THANK YOU. I like being able to see the difference between similar words & here you made a video CATEGORICALLY just for similar terms! -THANK YOU-

[@user-sf9ok8rw1c]

Sorry - not crossed out thank you. I was just trying to emphasize THANK YOU!!!

[@RamiJaloudi]

My preschooler and I are learning so much together, through you. So grateful to have you on KZbin. Thank you Meredith!

[@ArtHoundStudio]

Thank you for this! I don’t know anybody that deaf, I think this is an important skill that you need to learn. Thanks again!

[@johnpaulthomas3582]

Thank you Meredith. It is a joy to learn ASL from you.

[@tiffanytiffany2218]

Hi Meredith. I am taking an ASL class for beginners, but am watching your videos for further explanation and you are easier to understand and repeat things many times like I treasure as I am learning something new. Thank you!

[@mysticwolf1358]

the practice sentences at the end are so helpful. i started learning asl a few years ago but stopped when the pandemic hit, and this was a great refresher of the basics

[@madeleinephipps8334]

Thank you Meredith, I really like to learn from your because you repeated every word and it made it easy for me to learn.

[@tonnab1]

I am BSL native but a joy to learn ASL as well from you. Thumbs up.

[@pattygolden8177]

You're awesome! I am so thankful you posted those sentences at the end, I loved the variation.

[@ASLMeredith]

Wonderful! Thanks for that encouraging feedback!

[@DanyelleTheVariant]

I’m teaching my little sister ASL. Could you do a video on Disney signs? Such as the princesses and different characters?

[@jlostudio9397]

Yes, I think that would be cool, too, but all you have to do is finger spell the character names. I think ASLMeredith has a video about fingerspelling, so maybe you could use that.

[@DanyelleTheVariant]

@@jlostudio9397 Good idea! I’ve been using signs related to their stories like mimicking Rapunzel’s long hair and such. I just wanted to know if there were official signs for them.

[@jlostudio9397]

@@DanyelleTheVariant That’s smart! Keep on doing asl!

[@PebbleAmethyst]

The practice sentences at the end are so helpful!! That’s exactly the sort of thing I’m looking for at this point in my learning journey: understanding exercises. Thank you!

[@johnmarscamones6200]

Thank you teacher Meredith ☺. From Philippines 😊

[@nicolewood7957]

🙏🏾🙏🏾 I love everything about your presentation!

[@jasminewebb6512]

YOU MAKE THIS SOO EASY! THANK YOU

[@catielucas7300]

I am so happy I found you!! I am taking an introductory ASL course in college and there is no subtitles or speaking in any of the videos so I am so lost and stressed! You have made my life so much easier thank you!

[@kushaltaa]

I'm watching your all video in one day to learn every thing....why didn't I followed you earlier.... thanks for reaching us....it's very useful for me..😊😊💐💐💐

[@elizabethg9147]

Your ASL classes are very helpful!

[@ASLMeredith]

Thank you, Elizabeth! I'm glad you find these useful

[@sism3028]

Love this channel it is the BEST ASL channel that I have found! Thank you for the closed captions too.

[@ASLMeredith]

Thanks again!!! I appreciate your very kind and encouraging words! Glad you're enjoying learning with me :) and good to know the captions are appreciated!

[@catherineludlum4955]

i am taking a local asl class, but feel like I am falling behind. Your videos are amazing and feel like they are really helping me. I love you sign at the perfect speed and at different angles so I can comprehend them better. thank you so much!

[@catrinaverdone7664]

I'm trying to learn sign language so that I can teach it to my child that is 5yrs old nonverbal autistic. The trouble im having is many words are spelled out. Its overwhelming. Teaching him one hand movement is difficult but to have to basically teach him how to spell in order to speak is overwhelming. Is there an easier way that Im missing?

[@JcOlivera]

...thanks @ASLMeredith, great tips as usual, thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@ASLMeredith]

Thanks!! :)

[@DeeLuscious]

Ive only recently started watching ur videos. Your demonstration methods have gotten even better than your old videos. Great work amd thank you for making tese accessible! Sign language should be an official language in all countries.

[@ASLMeredith]

Hi Dee, thanks for the encouraging feedback!

[@ronscherzinger7629]

Love this vid. You show not just one sign but also the variations. Also, showing the sign from different viewing angles is very good to know. Just as in audio speaking languages, multiple people are carrying on a conversation and not everyone is directly in front of the “speaker”.

[@ASLMeredith]

Thanks for the encouraging feedback, Ron! I'm so glad you find this lesson format useful for learning :)

[@speakingfingersnetwork]

👌Signing Accuracy on point, Thank You🤟🏆

[@dannycostner8575]

Thanks Meredith, very informative

[@Laurenoelle1]

Thank you SO much for all your instructional videos! I am just beginning to learn ASL and your explanations and how you patiently demonstrate signs is invaluable!

[@ASLMeredith]

Thank YOU, Lauren! I'm so glad you find these useful.

[@redeemed3265]

I am trying to learn ASL. I just want to say that I love the way you teach. You take your time to show us the appropriate way to use our hands and fingers. Thank you so much 💓.

[@ASLMeredith]

Thank you, Jacqueline, for the kind feedback! I'm so glad you find my teaching format helpful for learning :)

[@cashewmf]

This is the most helpful video I’ve ever seen

[@ASLMeredith]

Wow, thank you for the kind feedback! I'm so glad you find this video useful for learning :D

[@vinnievincooper5778]

Awesome video, thank you! 😊

[@ASLMeredith]

Thank YOU! So glad you find this useful

[@marcosrhecker412]

You are the best !!love your videos 😁👍

[@ASLMeredith]

Aw, YOU'RE the best! :D :D

[@wandavilorio9236]

Hi Meredith! I currently take classes on Zoom with the ASL center, however, I enjoy seeing your videos. I learn even more with them. I appreciate you and the lessons you teach. I will say amazing to have this platform to enhance the skill of learning to sign. Love it!

[@ASLMeredith]

Hi Wanda, thanks for your comment! I'm so glad you find these videos helpful extra study in addition to your ASL class! :)

[@wandavilorio9236]

@@ASLMeredith I am happy to hear from you. It made my day! You are amazing!

[@tracyglenn2555]

This is great thank you

[@gwensimmons_gigi1629]

Thank you Meredith! ✨😘👍🏾 I just learnt that there is Black ASL from my old friend at Galludet College. I went to display what I learnt from one of your vids... Boy was I thoroughly schooled! 😂😃🤣 Be well!

[@ASLMeredith]

Hi Gwen! YES there is Black ASL -- I suggest you check out the work of Joseph Hill and his colleagues to learn more. They just today released a new documentary via languageandlife.org/ Here's a brief introduction from years ago: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2jSoIynmaqXi7s

[@SanguineBlackBlood]

I can send a link

[@SanguineBlackBlood]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2jSoIynmaqXi7s

[@shakebkhan757]

Salaam, I understand. Thankful for madam.

[@katrina8077]

So helpful!! Thank you

[@ASLMeredith]

Glad it was helpful!

[@sophiamontero82]

Hello... thank you for your wonderful videos I’m learning so much! Can you do Dental Sign Language vídeos I work at a dentist and I have a lot patients whom need help! I feel bad nobody knows sign and so many would appreciate it if we can at least say the dental procedures or explain what they have. Now with COVID only one person can come in and it can get hard if nobody can come with them! Please I really need help! Thank you!

[@jenniferdeloach6023]

Thank you! I love your teaching technique it helps me so much to learn ASL 💖💖💖🤟

[@ASLMeredith]

Thank you, Jennifer! I'm so glad you find these useful. Keep up the good work!

[@missroyena6540]

These are so helpful

[@ASLMeredith]

Thanks for your comment ! I'm so glad you find these useful

[@68pointbreak]

Wonderful video, always learning. Thank you

[@ASLMeredith]

Thank YOU! :)

[@ASLMeredith]

Thank YOU!

[@marialfantuladama8387]

Yayyy. Ty ,ty,ty,💕💕💕💕💕💕💝💝

[@LJscrubs]

This was amazing! I am learning & this was perfect for the question words!!!! I especially like the older versions being included because I was thinking "I thought I already knew what 'what' was!" LOL. THANKS!!!

[@ASLMeredith]

YAY thank you for your positive feedback! I'm so glad you found this so useful.

[@zainabkrayem6113]

Amazinggg thank you!

[@ASLMeredith]

Glad you like it!

[@darrenlucas9017]

Meredith I am really learning ASL with you. However, I learn the sign and when you are speaking in between signs I feel your going at 700 mph, and I then think I will never get this. To me, it seems so fast, then I go back to learning one sign at a time. I love your videos please keep them coming, doing this to help people. Thanks

[@wellsee2297]

Thanks for your posts and teaching people to be better.. most are just tictocks... superficial...💫

[@julessophie1085]

I studied ASL is 2011 and then again in 2015. it's been so long and I panicked at first when I saw you signing "who" and "what" differently from how I taught my friends. I was very relieved to find out the signs I know are just older. thank you very much for such an informative video/short lesson!

[@ASLMeredith]

Thanks for sharing, Jules! Great that you're returning to your ASL study :) and yes there's a lot of variation in ASL.

[@Sabrina-nv9mg]

Hi Meredith, thanks for your helpful videos. Becoming a hard of hearing for the past couple of years, you seem to have helped me a lot. Thank you. It’s been a joy to follow all your videos but I wished only you had the questions written somewhere on screen so I could understand them better by comparing the words to your signs.

[@ASLMeredith]

Hi Sepi, thank you for your kind and encouraging comment! I'm so glad you're embracing ASL and hope these videos continue to help you learn and practice. For videos without open (automatically on-video) captions, did you know you can click KZbin's CC button (sometimes hidden in the menu icon in the player) to enable closed captions? Then, you'll see the words on screen along with my signing. Hope that helps! (And then you can still download the freebie for explanations of the grammar and signs used in those sentences.)

[@Sabrina-nv9mg]

@@ASLMeredith thanks for your response and going to follow the advice to turn the CC on. You’re great ! Thanks again ❤️

[@ASLMeredith]

You're quite welcome!

[@CHrisPetE056]

Thank you for posting. I am taking a 10 week ASL get your feet wet kind of course. Last week we did W W W W H questions. Thank you for helping me practice. I’ll be back. I really am interested in learning ASL. But hard if you don’t have anyone to practice with.

[@ASLMeredith]

I'm so glad this was helpful! Keep up the good work! Try signradar.com to see if you can find people to sign with.

[@karencarney7595]

Where are there classes to teach u in person? My son just turned 7, and this is prime time to teach him a second language. Sign language is best

[@ASLMeredith]

Hi, thanks for your interest in a class! I offer an on-demand, online beginner class at courses.aslmeredith.com !

[@dannycostner8575]

thanks

[@Nitzah]

Trying to at least pick up a few signs (might as well attempt to learn the whole language since I’m doing so) to see if it’s a good option to know some signs for my co-workers. Army equipment- especially ours is quite loud sometimes and we’re Feild Artillery so we’re all slowly losing our hearing anyways (one guy already has hearing aids). Worst case scenario I’ll just end up knowing a bit more myself and if I actually get enough confidence to not immediately run for a notepad I’ll be able to talk to someone who’s deaf or HOH if the opportunity comes up. Since the Military doesn’t have deaf soldiers (which is its own shit since non deployable/direct combat jobs are probably quite doable) if I were to expand and create a few signs for ranks or specified equipment I don’t know if that’s 1) Faux pas and 2)How to not accidentally copy an existing sign. I suppose finger spelt abbreviations could work you think? Idk. I honestly might just have a little to much fun tbh 😅. Anywho thanks for the tutorial it’s super on par with my way learning!

[@anxie8091]

Im learning ASL because of my baby cousin, he isn't deaf or hard of hearing but he uses ASL to communicate since he cannot properly speak yet.

[@oshiengabob2466]

Thx for the video ma'am n tx for the effort, I love all yo tutorials... How do i sign "WHICH...."

[@cjohnson3289]

TAke your thumbs point them up make them go up and down

[@oshiengabob2466]

@@cjohnson3289 like am signing jacket???

[@fabioladesmont4815]

this is cool

[@summergarcia5497]

Would you use “when?” as in the question in the same context as like “when” I was little ….

[@SanguineBlackBlood]

Captions are for deaf people and people who can't understand asl. Thanks a lot Susan.

[@randompanperson8061]

Her name is merideth.

[@SanguineBlackBlood]

@@randompanperson8061 I'm talking about the ceo of KZbin not the owner of this channel. KZbin is no longer allowing community captions and is only allowing auto generated closed captioning.

[@kathleenthomas1897]

Hi, do you offer live classes? are they online? can you please tell me how I can find out about them? thanks

[@ASLMeredith]

Hi Kathy, thanks for your interest in learning ASL with me! I no longer offer live classes or tutorimg since I packaged my beginner foundations lessons into a self-paced online course! You can learn more about it at courses.aslmeredith.com -- or if you're looking for live zoom classes, check out options listed at aslmeredith.com/learn-from-home

[@charlettea.p.kealoha8050]

Stay with me Meredith, " what" 3 different hand signs? Does 1 mean more than the other? Like we speak " pigeon english " "short cut " talking? You've been here not sure if you picked up on it? Mahalo ( thanks)from Honolulu Hawaii

[@billmaghan]

I like the old "what" best.

[@calebmkinley2912]

nice

[@katcmurphy4321]

When you say "the sign What tends to be an older sign" at 2:21, what's the specific meaning of the word between sign and tends to be? It's the open palm going in circular motion towards your chest. It's translated into older but I searched older and it didn't look the same. :) Love these videos.

[@ASLMeredith]

Great question and good eye! That sign is sometimes translated as PAST, or BEFORE, or effectively "in the past", "way back", "back then", or "previously"/"used to". So it can also be translated as "older" in context. If you look up the sign for English "older", you'll probably see the sign off the chin that refers to something older in *age* (as in: "He's older than I"). For things that aren't being directly compared like that, more like something is being described as an "old sign", or an "old way of doing things", something "previously"/"historically" done, you can use this sign with the "5" handshape moving circularly back over the shoulder. Hope that helps!

[@katcmurphy4321]

@@ASLMeredith thank you so much!! Please keep making these videos. I love them. I'm learning so much! :)

[@luckymanuguid2490]

Same Filipino Sign Laguna

[@orestesdelgadojr7935]

Hello Meredith l like your sign for where so l want just said where is my car! Huh so sample signs pretty good 👍

[@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power]

👍🏾👍🏻

[@chibiprussia5574]

I'm a hostess and how would I sign how many are in their party and what is their phone number so we can text them when their table is ready?

[@fabioladesmont4815]

Goo practice

[@luckymanuguid2490]

I am learning ASL and FSL

[@richardchaven]

LSF?

[@luckymanuguid2490]

@@richardchaven what's LSF

[@richardchaven]

LSF is the acronym French sign language. In French

[@luckymanuguid2490]

Are you deaf, are you French Sign Language in France

[@luckymanuguid2490]

Me Filipino Sign Language in Philippines

[@sitirahminazliana4786]

Got 3😅

[@daniamiranda2202]

Hi Meredith. Is the voice we hear yours? If so. I’m just wondering why you don’t speak as you are doing the video?

[@SanguineBlackBlood]

When I started learning sign language I thought the silence was jarring. Now hearing words at the same time is super jarring and distracting because I learned asl separate from english.

[@ASLMeredith]

Indeed it is ! You can turn sound off.

[@SanguineBlackBlood]

@@ASLMeredith the link to the black asl video is here if you want I can send one that isn't by him.

[@texabara]

🤟

[@orestesdelgado4372]

hello there who that, ASLMEREDITH, SO SPECIAL ASL SIGNS, THAT COOL, SMILES HIGH FIVE

[@jlostudio9397]

I never knew there were so many ways to sign who!

[@ASLMeredith]

Now you know! the index-finger-circle one is a bit older though; suggest focusing on the other two that are more similar.

[@ASLwithAndreaGregory]

Shouldn't you tap 2x for eat, vs once which is food. ?

[@ASLMeredith]

Close but nope - it’s the opposite pattern!

[@ASLwithAndreaGregory]

@@ASLMeredith hmm 🤔 💭... well, not around here, but okay. Thanks

[@TheSquirtamus]

In sentence 5, your sign for "party" looks more like the sign for "people." The way I've seen party is signed with both hands both moving left and right together, not in opposite directions. I'm no expert, just wondering!

[@ASLMeredith]

Hi Sydney, thanks for your comment! Yes the sign PARTY can be signed either with the P hands moving in tandem or mirrored, or can even be with a "Y" handshape, too. The sign you're thinking of for PEOPLE is also a "P" handshape but has a very different movement, where the hands move in a vertical circular movement (not side to side)

[@calebmkinley2912]

there are a lot of what sings

[@joshuaalejandro42]

I’m so confused. There seems to be different ways to sign and I’m not sure if I’m doing it the right way.

[@ASLMeredith]

Hi Joshua, don't be overwhelmed! It's normal to be confused about different versions of words -- I address this in my beginner FAQs. Get it for free at aslmeredith.com/FAQ

[@summergarcia5497]

Why do we have to repeat “you” twice when asking a question?

[@ralphu.7568]

I got a few of them right away. Some not. Like the "party" one. I didn't know the sign for party so that threw me off.

[@ASLMeredith]

Ah, got it. Thanks! So you learned a new sign :)

[@runtiger]

Yes but heythere. Sign language teacher uthere lol I think that you should go and post a video of you. Teaching us some. Christian. Signs lol

[@emmery3571]

She has made one already

[@runtiger]

@@emmery3571 Oh ok then but I dont know what it is called

[@Alice_0v0]

👋🫳🫴 🫵? do you speak sign language hehe :)

[@allysha6708]

You are really good but tooooooo FAST. Could you please slow down a bit while forming sentences so that we, as beginners could grasp and understand what you are signing? Thanks...

[@ASLMeredith]

Thanks again for the feedback! I mentioned on your other comment: KZbin's player menu allows you to control video speed: Click the gear icon (or 3 dots) and select speed 0.5 or 0.25 to slow down the video.

[@marleneiraheta3679]

I like you channel, but one thing please don't repeat it much one sign please, I think 3 time is enough and the thing you repeat one sign more than 3 time, but I like you channel is very helpful for everyone that want to improve and learn sign laguage

[@bowcum]

today i learned i can't make a W with my left hand

[@jaydenlevd.serato9271]

wheres the when?

[@ASLMeredith]

"When" starts at 3:18 !

[@orestesdelgado4372]

Applaud beautiful signs beginning asl big Meredith care well how you? I am fine alway l love watch you video like to comfort you👋 Orestes Delgado wink honey

[@Iesh]

Yass love love this!