Basic Sign Language Phrases for Beginners
Basic sign language phrases help beginners move from single words into real communication. Start with short, useful phrases for greetings, manners, family routines, classroom needs, and simple questions. Then practice them with clear video models so your hands, facial expression, and body language work together.
This guide is written for kids, parents, teachers, and new ASL learners. Use it with the ASL Kids app and the ASL Kids dictionary so children can see signs in motion instead of trying to learn only from written words.
Turn beginner phrases into daily communication
Basic phrases are most useful when children practice them in short real moments: greeting someone, asking for help, choosing more or all done, naming family, and joining classroom routines.
- Reviewed by the ASL Kids editorial team on August 15, 2026.
- Phrases need movement, facial expression, and context; do not rely on English word order alone.
- For deeper learning, pair free practice with a structured ASL course, Deaf community input, or a qualified teacher when possible.
Before you memorize phrases
ASL is not English on the hands. It is a full visual language with its own grammar, facial expression, movement, and rhythm. A beginner phrase may use fewer signs than the English sentence, and the word order may feel different at first. That is normal.
- Watch signs in motion. Some phrases depend on movement, direction, and facial expression.
- Practice slowly. Clear signing is better than fast signing.
- Use real moments. Greetings, snack time, cleanup, play, and classroom routines make phrases easier to remember.
- Respect Deaf culture. Learn from Deaf creators, qualified teachers, and trusted ASL resources whenever possible.
- Do not force word-for-word English. Learn the meaning of the phrase, then copy good ASL models.
20+ basic sign language phrases for beginners
The phrases below are useful starting points. Use the English phrase as the idea you want to communicate, then look up the individual signs and watch the full phrase in motion where possible.
| Beginner phrase | When kids can use it | Practice next |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Greeting family, classmates, teachers, or new friends. | Pair with a smile and eye contact. |
| Goodbye / See you later | Leaving school, ending a call, or saying bye to friends. | Practice at the door each day. |
| My name is… | Introducing yourself. | Use the ASL alphabet to fingerspell your name. |
| What is your name? | Meeting a new person. | Practice with a partner and take turns answering. |
| Nice to meet you | Starting a polite conversation. | Watch a phrase model so the movement is natural. |
| I am learning ASL | Letting someone know you are a beginner. | Practice slowly and clearly. |
| Please | Making polite requests. | Use during snack, play, or classroom materials. |
| Thank you | Showing appreciation. | Use after help, gifts, turns, and shared toys. |
| Sorry | Apologizing or repairing a moment. | Practice with calm facial expression. |
| Excuse me | Getting attention politely. | Use before asking a question. |
| Help | Asking for support. | Pair with the object or activity that is hard. |
| More | Asking for another turn, more food, or more play. | Good for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. |
| All done | Ending meals, cleanup, therapy, or an activity. | Use with routines so the meaning is clear. |
| Stop | Setting a boundary or ending an action. | Practice during games before using it in hard moments. |
| Wait | Transitions, lines, turns, and classroom routines. | Pair with a visual timer if helpful. |
| Again | Requesting another song, story, or turn. | Use during favorite activities. |
| How are you? | Simple conversation practice. | Answer with fine, happy, tired, or sad. |
| I am fine | Answering a greeting. | Add a feeling sign as vocabulary grows. |
| I do not understand | Asking for clarification. | Follow with “again” or “slow.” |
| Please sign slowly | Helpful when someone signs too fast. | Use this as a confidence phrase for beginners. |
| Where is the bathroom? | School, travel, stores, and community settings. | Practice where and bathroom separately first. |
| I want to play | Playdates, preschool, and family time. | Pair want with play, toy, game, or outside. |
| I need a break | Therapy, school, sensory moments, or frustration. | Use with a break card or visual schedule when helpful. |
Best first phrases by age and setting
| Learner | Start with | Good ASL Kids resource |
|---|---|---|
| Babies and toddlers | More, all done, milk, eat, help, sleep, mom, dad. | Baby Sign Language First 25 Signs |
| Preschool and daycare | Please, thank you, stop, wait, again, help, bathroom, play. | Sign Language Activities for Preschoolers |
| Family beginners | Hello, my name is, nice to meet you, how are you, I am learning ASL. | Sign Language for Kids |
| Older kids | Names, feelings, school signs, questions, numbers, and short conversations. | ASL Kids Dictionary |
| Communication support | Help, stop, break, all done, more, feelings, yes, no, wait. | ASL for Children With Communication Needs |
Practice video: beginner ASL phrases
The video below introduces beginner phrases such as greetings, names, questions, and polite expressions. Watch once for the big idea, then pause and copy one phrase at a time.
How to practice ASL phrases with kids
- Choose three phrases for the week. For example: hello, help, and thank you.
- Attach each phrase to a real routine. Use hello at arrival, help during hard tasks, and thank you after a turn.
- Watch the sign, then copy it. Video practice helps children see handshape, movement, facial expression, and timing.
- Keep sessions short. Two minutes of daily practice is more realistic than a long lesson once a week.
- Add related signs. After help, add more, all done, again, wait, stop, and feelings.
- Celebrate communication. The goal is connection, not perfect performance on day one.
Common beginner mistakes
- Learning only a written list. Phrase lists are helpful, but ASL needs visual practice.
- Signing every English word. ASL has its own grammar, so focus on meaning.
- Forgetting facial expression. Questions and feelings often need the face as much as the hands.
- Rushing too fast. Slow, clear signing is easier to understand.
- Skipping everyday practice. Phrases stick when children use them in real routines.
Helpful phrase practice tools
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Free practice works well for many families: use the ASL Kids app, the dictionary, and short daily routines. If you want a more structured path, SignLanguage101 offers online ASL courses for learners who want lessons in sequence.
- ASL conversation cards for kids on Amazon
- ASL flash cards for beginners on Amazon
- ASL phrase books for beginners on Amazon
For more practice materials, compare ASL flash cards for kids, sign language books for kids, and the main ASL learning tools guide.
What to learn after basic ASL phrases
- Follow the Start Learning ASL roadmap if you want one organized beginner path.
- Use the First 50 ASL Signs guide to build a bigger family or classroom starter list.
- Choose ASL signs by routine for meals, bedtime, cleanup, play, feelings, and school.
- Practice with ASL games for kids so phrase review feels active and social.
- Learn the ASL alphabet so you can fingerspell names and places.
- Practice numbers in ASL for ages, counting, dates, and games.
- Browse the ASL Kids dictionary for everyday signs by topic.
- Use ASL lesson plans for kids for weekly practice structure.
- Download free ASL printables for trackers, posters, worksheets, and flash cards.
- Build a beginner ASL learning plan with app, dictionary, videos, and courses.
- Compare online ASL courses when you are ready for a more structured path.
Trusted resources for ASL phrases
For more beginner phrase examples, compare this guide with Lifeprint’s ASL phrase index. For background on ASL as a complete visual language, see the NIDCD overview of American Sign Language.
Ready for an online ASL course?
Use the free ASL Kids app and printables for daily practice. When a learner needs lessons in order, grammar, Deaf-culture context, review, and a steadier routine, compare the course paths next.
- Kids course path for older children and homeschool learners.
- Adult course path for parents, caregivers, teachers, teens, and beginners.
- Free ASL Kids resources still support practice between course lessons.
Affiliate disclosure: Course buttons may be affiliate links. ASL Kids may earn a commission if you enroll, at no extra cost to you.
FAQ: basic sign language phrases
What sign language phrases should beginners learn first?
Start with phrases you can use every day: hello, goodbye, my name is, thank you, please, help, more, all done, stop, wait, how are you, and I am learning ASL.
Can kids learn ASL phrases before they know the alphabet?
Yes. Babies, toddlers, and preschoolers can start with meaningful routine signs before learning the full alphabet. The alphabet becomes more useful when children begin fingerspelling names and words.
Are ASL phrases the same as English sentences?
No. ASL has its own grammar and visual structure. Beginners should learn the meaning of a phrase and watch it signed naturally instead of translating every English word one by one.
How can parents practice sign language phrases at home?
Pick two or three phrases and attach them to daily routines. Use help during tricky tasks, more at snack time, all done at the end of meals, and thank you after a turn or gift.
Do I need a paid course to learn basic ASL phrases?
No. You can start with free videos, the ASL Kids app, and dictionary practice. A course can help when you want more structure, feedback, grammar, and a steady learning path.
Are you the adult learning ASL?
Use the ASL Course for Adults guide to choose a structured adult path for parents, teachers, caregivers, teens, and beginners, then pair lessons with ASL Kids app practice.
Choosing a course for a teen?
Use the ASL Course for Teens guide to decide whether your learner fits the kids course, adult beginner course, high-school-credit path, or free app practice first.
Considering SignLanguage101?
Read the SignLanguage101 review to see when it fits kids, teens, parents, teachers, and adult beginners, and when a free app path, live feedback, or credit-focused course is a better choice.
Looking for an ASL 1 course?
Use the ASL 1 Course Online guide to choose between a free app start, a self-paced kids or adult course, a high-school-credit path, or a guided course with feedback.
Need ASL to count for high school credit?
Use the ASL Course for High School Credit guide to choose between homeschool records, school approval, certificates, and formal credit before buying a course.
