You ever freeze up trying to sign a simple sentence because you can't figure out how to connect two ideas? On top of that, most people learn a few signs — "eat," "sleep," "happy" — and then hit a wall when they realize they don't know how to say "is. " That tiny word trips up more beginners than you'd think.
Here's the thing — in American Sign Language, there isn't a direct little sign you slap between two things like the English word "is." And that throws people. But once it clicks, it's kind of liberating.
If you've been wondering how to say is in sign language, you're asking the right question. It's not about memorizing one handshape. It's about understanding how ASL actually builds meaning.
What Is Sign Language "To Be"
So, first off — ASL doesn't have a verb that maps to "is," "am," or "are." English needs that connector. Sign language often doesn't.
When you sign "BOOK RED," you're not missing a word. You're saying "the book is red" without voicing the "is.On top of that, " The visual setup does the work. The noun sits there, the adjective follows, and your face and shoulders tell the viewer this is a statement of fact.
Not a Gap, Just a Different Grammar
A lot of new signers think they're doing it wrong when they leave out "is.That's why aSL is a visual-gestural language with its own grammar. On top of that, " They're not. It doesn't borrow English sentence structure and just swap in hand signs.
Look, in English we say "she is tall.The "is" isn't invisible because it's omitted — it's just not a separate unit. Even so, " In ASL you'd sign "SHE TALL" with a slight nod and steady eye contact. The state is shown through the sign order and non-manual markers.
When Something Closer to "Is" Shows Up
There are times a sign feels like "to be.Now, " The sign for "BE" or "EXIST" (sometimes shown by pointing upward with an index finger near the chest, then a small circular motion) can be used for emphasis or existence. But it's not tossed into every sentence.
And then there's "TRUE" or "ACTUALLY" used to confirm a state — like "he IS the teacher" when someone doubts it. That's a pragmatic "is," not a grammatical one.
Why It Matters
Why does this matter? Because most people skip it and end up signing like they're reading a robotic English transcript.
If you force an "is" into every thought, you sound — or rather, look — like a foreign textbook. Here's the thing — worse, you miss the rhythm of ASL. The language breathes through space and expression, not through filler words.
I know it sounds simple — but it's easy to miss. They'll fingerspell I-S or invent a connector. That said, beginners often get stuck translating word-for-word. That's a habit worth breaking early.
Real talk: understanding how "is" works (or doesn't) is the difference between "I memorized signs" and "I can actually communicate.Think about it: " It changes how you watch Deaf signers, too. You start seeing the grammar in the eyebrows.
How To Express "Is" In ASL
The short version is: you usually don't. But You've got clear ways worth knowing here.
Statements of Description
For "the cat is small," you sign CAT SMALL. No linker. Use a calm nod.
Want to say "the soup is hot"? SOUP HOT, maybe with a quick breath and wrinkled nose. The feeling sells it.
Identity and Naming
"She is my friend" becomes SHE MY FRIEND. The possessive "my" carries the relationship.
If you mean "he is a doctor," you can sign HE DOCTOR. Or use the indexing: point to him, then DOCTOR.
Existence — When You Need "There Is" or "Is"
English "there is a dog" maps to the ASL sign HAVE or EXIST depending on context. "Have" is shown by a flat hand moving toward the chest. "Exist" can be the upward index with a small motion.
So "is there food?So " might be FOOD EXIST? with raised eyebrows for the question.
For more on this topic, read our article on how many days is 3 weeks or check out how many cups in a qt.
Emphasis and Correction
When the "is" carries weight — "no, he IS the boss" — you can use the sign for TRUE or a strong nod with the statement. Some signers use a version of "BE" for clarity in teaching or storytelling.
Turns out, emphasis is mostly in the face. A hard eye lock and a still posture can shout "IS" louder than any hand.
Using Classifiers Instead
Sometimes "is" hides inside a classifier. You show a small object resting on a table by using a classifier handshape — that movement is the "is located" part. You're not signing "the cup is on the table" word by word. You're showing the cup being on the table.
In practice, this is where ASL gets beautiful. The "is" becomes spatial.
Common Mistakes
Honestly, this is the part most guides get wrong. But they tell you to just "omit is" and leave it at that. But the mistakes go deeper.
One big error: fingerspelling I-S. I've seen it. It looks odd and breaks the flow. ASL isn't English with hand letters.
Another: over-nodding. A gentle nod confirms a statement. Constant bobbing looks like a toy. Let the sign breathe.
And people love to insert "BE" everywhere because they learned one sign for existence. That's like using "exist" in every English sentence. "The sky exist blue." No.
Worth knowing: ignoring non-manual markers is the silent killer. You can sign BOY TALL with a confused face and it reads as a question. The "is" you forgot was actually supposed to be a steady look.
Practical Tips
Here's what actually works when you're learning this:
- Watch Deaf creators and notice when they don't sign "is." Pause and rewrite the English in your head without the word.
- Practice "noun + adjective" with a mirror. Say nothing. Just sign BOOK HEAVY and watch your face.
- Use indexing. Point, then describe. That point is doing grammatical work.
- Don't panic in conversations. If you mean "is," show the state. Point, sign, hold eye contact.
- Record yourself. You'll catch the robotic habits fast.
- Learn the EXIST and TRUE signs for the times you genuinely need them — not as daily glue.
The short version is: trust the language. It doesn't need the connector you were raised on.
FAQ
How do you sign "is" in ASL?
You usually don't. ASL drops the verb "to be" and shows state through word order and facial expression. For emphasis or existence, signs like TRUE or EXIST are used.
Is there a sign for "are"?
No separate sign. "They are happy" is signed THEY HAPPY. The plural is shown by indexing or context, not a different "are" sign.
How do you sign "he is" or "she is"?
Point to the person (index), then the descriptor. HE TALL, SHE TEACHER. The point replaces the pronoun and the "is" is implied.
Can you fingerspell "is"?
You could, but it's not standard and looks unnatural. It's better to learn the visual grammar than to spell English words.
Why doesn't ASL have a word for "is"?
Because it evolved as a visual language where state and location are shown spatially and through expression, not through a linking verb like English uses.
At the end of the day, learning how to say is in sign language means unlearning a habit from spoken English. Day to day, once you stop reaching for the missing word, the space between your signs starts to mean something. And that's when it feels like you're really signing.
