How to Sign Love in Sign Language
Learn how to sign 'love' in ASL: cross both fists over your heart in a hug. Plus the popular 'I love you' handshape explained step by step.
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Quick answer
To sign 'love' in ASL, cross both closed fists over your chest as if hugging yourself, pressing them against your heart. This is different from the famous 'I love you' handshape, which combines the letters I, L, and Y on one hand.
How to Sign Love in Sign Language
There are two affectionate signs people search for, and they are not the same. The word “love” in ASL is made by crossing both closed fists over your chest — pressing them against your heart as if you were hugging yourself. The separate, world-famous “I love you” handshape extends the thumb, index finger, and pinky on one hand at the same time.
Knowing both lets you use the right one: the crossed-fist hug for the concept of love, and the ILY handshape for the affectionate phrase.
Step-by-Step: Signing Love (the Hug)
| Step | What to Do |
|---|---|
| 1. Handshape | Close both hands into relaxed fists. |
| 2. Position | Bring both arms up in front of your chest. |
| 3. Cross | Cross your forearms over each other. |
| 4. Press | Hold the fists against your heart, like a hug. |
| 5. Expression | A warm, gentle face reinforces the meaning. |
The crossed-arms embrace makes the meaning of “love” easy to read and feel.
The Famous “I Love You” Handshape
The ILY sign is a single hand pose that blends three letters.
| Finger | Position | Letter It Represents |
|---|---|---|
| Thumb | Extended out | L (with index) |
| Index | Extended up | L |
| Pinky | Extended up | I |
| Middle + ring | Folded down | (combine to Y with thumb) |
Extend the thumb, index, and pinky together with the palm facing outward, and you have signed “I love you.”
Love vs. I Love You: Don’t Mix Them Up
| Sign | How It’s Made | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| LOVE | Both fists crossed over the heart | The concept of love |
| I LOVE YOU | One hand, thumb + index + pinky out | The phrase “I love you” |
Use the hug for the word, and the three-finger handshape for the heartfelt phrase.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using ILY when you mean the word “love.” They are different signs.
- Raising the middle or ring finger in ILY. Only the thumb, index, and pinky extend.
- Crossing the arms too low. Hold the love hug at heart level.
- Forgetting expression. A warm face is part of conveying affection in ASL.
Related Signs to Learn Next
Pair “love” with the affectionate and family signs people use most:
- I LOVE YOU — thumb, index, and pinky extended on one hand.
- HUG — both arms wrapping across the chest with the same hug feeling.
- HEART — drawing or tracing a heart shape over the chest.
- FAMILY — two F hands circling outward to form a group.
Learning the hugging “love” sign and the ILY handshape together covers the two most-requested ways to express affection in ASL — a warm, meaningful addition to any beginner’s vocabulary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you sign 'love' in ASL?
Make two fists and cross your arms over your chest, pressing your closed hands against your heart as if giving yourself a hug. This crossed-arms-over-the-heart gesture is the ASL sign for the noun and verb 'love.'
What is the difference between 'love' and 'I love you' in sign language?
'Love' crosses both fists over the heart like a hug. 'I love you' is a separate one-handed sign that extends the thumb, index finger, and pinky at once — combining the handshapes for the letters I, L, and Y into a single gesture.
How do you make the 'I love you' handshape?
On one hand, extend your thumb, index finger, and pinky finger while keeping the middle and ring fingers folded down. Face your palm outward. The three raised fingers blend the letters I, L, and Y to mean 'I love you.'
Is the 'I love you' sign used worldwide?
The ILY handshape originated in American Sign Language and has become widely recognized as a symbol of affection in the United States and beyond, though it is rooted in ASL. Other sign languages may have their own distinct signs for love.
Can children learn the love sign easily?
Yes. The 'I love you' handshape is especially popular with children because it is a single, fun hand pose, and the hugging 'love' sign is intuitive since it mimics a real embrace. Both are common early signs in families.