How to Sign What in Sign Language
Learn how to sign 'what' in ASL. Hold both open palms up and shake them slightly, often with raised eyebrows and a questioning look. Step-by-step guide and tips.
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Quick answer
To sign 'what' in ASL, hold both open hands up with palms facing the ceiling and give them a small shake, while furrowing your eyebrows and tilting your head in a questioning look. A simpler one-handed version drags the index finger down the opposite palm.
How to Sign What in Sign Language
“What” is one of the most frequently used question words in American Sign Language (ASL). The most common, casual version holds both open hands up with palms facing the ceiling and gives them a small shake while you furrow your eyebrows and tilt your head in a questioning look. A more traditional, one-handed version drags the tip of your index finger down across the open palm of your other hand.
Whichever form you use, the facial expression is not optional — in ASL, the questioning face is part of the grammar.
Step-by-Step: Signing What (Two-Handed)
| Step | What to Do |
|---|---|
| 1. Handshape | Open both hands with relaxed, spread fingers. |
| 2. Palm orientation | Turn both palms up toward the ceiling. |
| 3. Position | Hold the hands in front of you at chest height. |
| 4. Movement | Shake the hands with a small back-and-forth motion. |
| 5. Face | Furrow your eyebrows and tilt your head slightly. |
The shrug-like shake plus a questioning face reads instantly as “what.”
Why Facial Expression Matters
ASL grammar marks “wh-” questions with the face, not just the hands. For words like what, where, who, and why, you lower your eyebrows and slightly tilt your head. Skipping this makes the question look unfinished.
| Element | Role in the Question |
|---|---|
| Furrowed eyebrows | Signals a wh- question |
| Head tilt | Reinforces the questioning tone |
| Hand shake | Carries the meaning “what” |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting the eyebrows. A neutral or raised brow changes the grammar of the question.
- Shaking too vigorously. A small, controlled shake reads more clearly.
- Mixing up the wh- words. “What” shakes palms up; “where” shakes a single index finger.
- Holding the hands too high. Keep them comfortably at chest level.
What Across Sign Languages
Question signs vary widely among the world’s independent sign languages, though most pair a hand sign with a questioning expression.
| Sign Language | Approach |
|---|---|
| American (ASL) | Palms-up shake or finger down the palm |
| British (BSL) | Its own distinct wh- handshape |
| Australian (Auslan) | Related to BSL; differs from ASL |
| French (LSF) | A separate form with questioning face |
Related Signs to Learn Next
“What” pairs naturally with the other question words you will use constantly:
- WHERE — shake a single raised index finger side to side.
- WHO — an L handshape circling near the chin.
- WHY — tap the forehead, then show a Y handshape.
- WHEN — one index finger circling around the other.
- HOW — curved hands rolling forward into open palms.
Because questions are the backbone of conversation, “what” is a high-value sign to master early, and learning the shared questioning expression unlocks the entire family of wh- words at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you sign 'what' in ASL?
The common version holds both open hands up, palms facing up, and shakes them slightly while you furrow your brow in a questioning expression. A more formal version drags the tip of one index finger downward across the open palm of the other hand.
Why is facial expression important for the sign 'what'?
In ASL, 'wh-' questions like what, where, and who use furrowed eyebrows and a slight head tilt as grammar, not just emotion. Without the questioning face, the hand movement alone can look incomplete or be misread, so the expression is essential.
Is there a one-handed way to sign 'what'?
Yes. A traditional one-handed form drags the tip of your dominant index finger down across the open palm of your other hand. Many signers, however, simply use the two-handed palms-up shake in everyday casual conversation.
How is 'what' different from 'why' or 'where' in sign language?
'What' uses palms-up shaking hands or a finger dragged down the palm. 'Why' taps the forehead then shows a Y handshape. 'Where' shakes a single raised index finger side to side. All three share the same furrowed-brow questioning expression.
Do I have to use both hands to sign 'what'?
No. The two-handed palms-up shake is most common and natural in casual signing, but the one-handed index-finger-on-palm version is fully correct and often used in more formal contexts. Either is understood as 'what.'