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How to Count to 100 in American Sign Language

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Learning numbers is a key part of basic ASL instruction. Even if you only know a few signs, once you can count and fingerspell, your communication will improve by leaps and bounds!


  1. 1
    Learn how to sign the numbers 1-5.The numbers 1-5 are just like counting on your fingers. The trick is to remember the order. It goes index finger (1), index and middle (2), index, middle, and thumb (3), all but thumb (4), and all five fingers (5). Normally, you should orient your hand palm back (palm facing you) for these numbers. Avoid the temptation to sign two with thumb and index finger, or four with all but pinkie, which may feel more natural when counting.
  2. 2
    Learn how to sign the numbers 6-9. The numbers 6-9 are counted off by touching a finger to your thumb. Your palm is oriented out (towards the person to whom you are signing). The order is pinkie to thumb (6), then ring finger (7), middle finger (8), index (9). If you forget which way this goes, it might be helpful to remember that for the smallest number (6) you touch your thumb to the smallest finger (pinkie).
  3. 3
    Learn how to sign the number 10. The number 10 is signed by shaking an "A" hand thumb up (fingers bent in, thumb against the side of the index finger).
  4. 4
    Learn how to sign the numbers 11-15. The numbers 11-12 require "flicking" your fingers up two times, palm back. So for 11, flick your index finger up, for 12 your index and middle pressed together. For 13, it's more of a "come here" gesture with the thumb out and two fingers pressed together again, bending in twice rather than flicking out. Same for 14 (all fingers bend in twice with thumb tucked in), and 15 (all fingers bend in twice with thumb out).
  5. 5
    Learn how to sign the numbers 16-19. For 16-19, you twist the base number twice, starting palm back. You twist the wrist as if you were going to turn the sign all the way to face palm out, but it doesn't go all the way, only about 1/2 (so if you're right handed it goes from palm back to palm left twice). 16 is the 6 sign twisted twice, 17 the 7 sign, etc.
  6. 6
    Learn how to sign the number 20. For 20, tap your thumb and index finger together twice, fingertips facing forward, other fingers bent at the knuckle with their tips touching the base of your palm (like pinching something). This looks like the sign for "G" opening and closing.
  7. 7
    Learn how to sign the number 21. The sign for 21 almost looks like a gun--palm back, index finger pointing to the side, thumb pinches down twice against the index finger.
  8. 8
    Learn how to sign the number 22. The sign for 22 is a "2" with the palm facing down, followed by another two signed a few inches away (towards the right if you're right-handed). The same idea is used for 33, 44, etc.
  9. 9
    Learn how to sign the numbers 23 and 25. The signs for 23 and 25 are similar--palm oriented forward, start from a "3" handshape and flick the middle finger down twice (23) or start from a "5" shape and flick middle finger down twice (25).
  10. 10
    Learn the signs for the number 24 and the numbers 26-29. The signs for 24 and 26-29 are all palm forward, sign that "gun" shape with the index finger pointing forward and thumb up, then sign the 4, 6, 7, 8, or 9 after it.
  11. 11
    Learn how to sign the numbers which are evenly divisible by ten(such as 30,40,50). The signs for 30, 40, 50 etc are simply 3-0 (hand in an "o" shape), 4-0, etc.
  12. 12
    Practice signing 30-99. Remember that your palm faces out except for the double numbers (33, 44, 55, 66, 77, 88, 99) which are signed with the palm down. 30-99 are signed as single digits, so 32 will be signed 3-2, 41 will be 4-1, etc.
  13. 13
    Learn how to sign the number 100. The sign for 100 is 1-C (think Roman numerals).

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  • There are some exceptions to palm orientation, depending on the context of the number. Sometimes, for example, 1-4 are done palm-forward because of the signs that surround them.
  • Ordinal numbers (1st, 2nd, etc.) are done with a twist of the wrist for 1-9, and the number + th after that. This is true even if in English, you'd say, for example, "42nd."
  • Don't worry about being too precise about handshape. As long as the shape is clear, it's okay if the shape or orientation are slightly relaxed. It can be uncomfortable, for example, to have the palm perfectly forward, so you can orientate slightly down.
  • Numbers can be useful referents when signing, to keep track of whom or what you're talking about. You usually communicate this by establishing the number of people/things, and then pointing to a finger for each. For example, you might sign "I have three sisters," then point to your thumb, give a name, where that sister lives, how many kids she has, etc. When you're done talking about her, you'd point to your index finger before describing another sister, and then the middle for the third. This helps us know that you're still talking about your sisters.

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