Word List: Numbers
Created By: Signing Savvy
List Details
This is an official Signing Savvy members-only word list. Since you are not currently a full member of Signing Savvy, you can only preview some of the features of this word list. Become a Signing Savvy Full Member to access all the word list features.
Member Tools (tutorial)
You can type any number in the search box to see the sign for the number.
A great place to start learning the ASL numbers is with this word list.
Hand Position / Palm Orientation
Hand positioning when signing numbers can be confusing! We’ve noted palm orientation guidelines for each set of numbers in the lists below. For some numbers, your palm orientation will either face toward or away from your body as you are signing numbers depending on why you are signing them. For example, if you are signing a quantity, the palm of your hand should face away from your body while you are signing the number(s). If you are just signing a number, then the position of your hand varies depending on the number you are signing.
ASL Number Learning Tools
As a Signing Savvy Member, you can use the "Practice with Flash Cards" and "Create Quiz and Test Yourself" tools with this word list to practice and test yourself on the ASL numbers. Just click on the buttons above to get started. This is a great place to start if you are just beginning to learn ASL numbers.
Once you know the individual numbers and how to count in ASL, you are ready to start making larger numbers and series of numbers. We have the Savvy Numbers Quiz and Savvy Numbers Flash Cards tools to help you practice your receptive numbers skills.
Check out the tools to help learn numbers:
Printable Posters
Here is a printable poster that corresponds with this wordlist:
Number Vocabulary
Numbers - 1 to 5
- There is a unique sign for the numbers one through five.
- Palm Orientation: Your palm should face toward your body when signing the numbers 1 through 5, unless you are specifically indicating a quantity, in which case your palm should face away from your body as you sign.
- 1 - 5 are important signs to remember because you will use them frequently when signing higher numbers.
(as in "the number or amount and when counting")
(as in "the number or amount and when counting")
(as in "the number or amount and when counting")
(as in "the number or amount and when counting")
(as in "the number or amount and when counting")
Numbers - 6 to 10
- There is a single sign for the numbers six through ten.
- Palm Orientation: Your palm should always face away from your body when signing the numbers 6 through 10.
- 6 - 9 are important signs to remember because you will use them frequently when signing higher numbers.
- The signs for 6 and the letter W are identical.
- The signs for 9 and the letter F are identical.
(as in "the number")
(as in "the number")
(as in "the number")
(as in "the number")
(as in "the number")
Numbers - 11 to 15
- There is a single sign for the numbers eleven through fifteen.
- The numbers 11 through 15 have a repeated motion.
- Palm Orientation: Your palm should face toward your body when signing the numbers 11 through 15, unless you are specifically indicating a quantity, in which case your palm should face away from your body as you sign.
(as in "the number")
(as in "the number")
(as in "the number")
(as in "the number")
(as in "the number")
Numbers - 16 to 19
- For these numbers, you sign a combination of two signs: 10 and the following single-digit number. For example, to sign 16 you would use the sign for 10 and the sign for 6 quickly put together.
- Palm Orientation: Your palm starts facing your body and then turns out away from your body as you transition from the 10 handshape to the single-digit handshape when signing the numbers 16 through 19.
Numbers - 20
- There is a unique sign for 20. It has a repeated motion from a modified 2 (similar to an L) handshape to a modified 0 handshape.
- Palm Orientation: Your palm should always face away from your body when signing the number 20.
Numbers - 21
- There is a unique sign for 21. It changes from a modified 2 (similar to an L) handshape to a 1 handshape.
- Palm Orientation: Your palm should always face your body when signing the number 21.
Numbers - Identical / Double Digits - 22, 33, 44, 55, 66, 77, 88, 99
- Numbers that have two identical digits - 22, 33, 44, 55, 66, 77, 88, 99 - are signed with the palm down, bouncing from your non-dominant side to your dominate side.
- Palm Orientation:
- Palm Orientation: Your palm should be facing down when signing identical digit numbers (22, 33, 44, 55, 66, 77, 88, 99).
- Note: 11 is not signed using this identical / double digits pattern.
Numbers - 23 to 29
- Numbers 23 through 29 are signed with a modified 2 (similar to an L) handshape.
- Note: 22 uses the 2 handshape and does not use the modified 2 (similar to an L) handshape.
- Your palm should always face away from your body when signing the numbers 23 through 29.
Numbers - 30 to 99
- Combine the signs for the first and then second digit of the number to sign the numbers 30 through 99.
- Palm Orientation: Your palm should always face away from your body when signing the numbers 30 through 99.
- Note: Identical / double digit numbers are included in this list, however, they do not follow this pattern. See the section describing identical / double digits for information on how those signs are formed. Identical / Double digit numbers include 22, 33, 44, 55, 66, 77, 88, 99.
(as in "the number")
(as in "the number")
(as in "the number")
(as in "the number")
(as in "the number")
(as in "the number")
(as in "the number")
(as in "the number")
Numbers - Hundreds - 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900
- The sign for C represents a hundred. This comes from the Roman numeral character "C" used for 100.
- To sign 100, sign the number 1 and then change to the C handshape as it slides back towards the body. For 200, sign the number 2 and then change to the C handshape as it slides back towards the body.
- Palm Orientation: Your palm should always face away from your body when signing the hundred numbers.
Numbers - Thousand
- The sign for thousand is made by having the fingertips of the bent-B handshape come down in the palm of the opposite hand.
- To sign 1000, sign the number 1 and then thousand. Use this same pattern to sign other thousand numbers (1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000, 7000, 8000, 9000).
- Palm Orientation: Your palm should always face forward when signing the first digit and then the palm faces down when making the sign for thousand.
Numbers - Million
- The sign for million is made by having the fingertips of the bent-B handshape come down in the palm of the opposite hand two times (as in one thousand thousand).
- To sign 1,000,000 - sign the number 1 and then million. Use this same pattern to sign other million numbers.
- Palm Orientation: Your palm should always face forward when signing the first digit and then the palm faces down when making the sign for million.
Numbers - Billion
- The sign for billion is fingerspelled.
- Another variation for signing billion is made by having the fingertips of the bent-B handshape come down in the palm of the opposite hand three times (as in one thousand thousand thousand).
- To sign 1,000,000,000 - sign the number 1 and then BILLION. Use this same pattern to sign other billion numbers.
- Palm Orientation: Your palm should always face forward when fingerspelling B-I-L-L-I-O-N. When signing the second variation of BILLION, your palm should always face forward when signing the first digit and then the palm faces down when making the sign for BILLION.
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