Accessibility Services · Minister Destiny and Andrew — Journey of Help

Sign Language — Lesson 2

Greetings and Courtesy

Home Accessibility Services Library

← Back to the Sign Language Course · Accessibility Services

The signs

HELLO

Handshape
Open hand, fingers together, thumb out — a flat B hand.
Place
Fingertips up near your forehead, like the start of a salute.
Movement
Tip your hand out and away from your head once, like a small wave.
Remember it: Hello starts at your forehead — a wave that begins like a salute.

GOODBYE

Handshape
Open hand, palm facing the person.
Place
Up in front of you, where they can see it.
Movement
Fold your fingers down toward your palm two or three times.
Remember it: Goodbye is your fingers waving, not your whole arm.

GOOD MORNING

Handshape
Two signs together: GOOD, then MORNING.
Place
GOOD starts at your lips; MORNING starts under your other forearm.
Movement
GOOD: flat hand at your lips moves forward and down onto your other palm. MORNING: your flat hand rises up from under your other forearm, like the sun coming up.
Remember it: Good morning — good words, then the sun rises.

PLEASE

Handshape
Flat open hand.
Place
Right in the middle of your chest.
Movement
Rub your hand in a slow circle on your chest.
Remember it: Please is a circle rubbed over your heart.

THANK YOU

Handshape
Flat open hand, fingers together.
Place
Fingertips touch your chin.
Movement
Move your hand forward and a little down, toward the person, like blowing a kiss — but starting from your chin.
Remember it: Thank you starts at your chin and travels to the person.

YOU'RE WELCOME

Handshape
Open hand, palm facing up.
Place
In front of your waist.
Movement
Sweep your hand in a gentle arc from one side of your body to the other.
Remember it: You're welcome sweeps across like opening a door for someone.

SORRY

Handshape
A fist with the thumb up — an A hand.
Place
In the middle of your chest.
Movement
Rub the fist in a circle on your chest.
Remember it: Sorry and please both circle the chest — sorry is a fist, please is flat.

EXCUSE ME

Handshape
One hand open and flat, the other palm-up underneath.
Place
In front of your body.
Movement
Brush your fingertips across your other palm twice, like brushing crumbs off a table.
Remember it: Excuse me brushes past, politely.

HOW ARE YOU

Handshape
Two signs: HOW, then YOU.
Place
HOW is at your chest; YOU points at the person.
Movement
HOW: touch the fingertips of both bent hands together, then roll your stronger hand forward. YOU: point at the person. Raise your eyebrows — your face asks the question too.
Remember it: How are you — roll the question forward, then point to them.

Try It — sign it yourself

  1. Greet the mirror: HELLO, HOW ARE YOU — eyebrows up for the question.
  2. Sign PLEASE and THANK YOU until your hands know them without thinking.
  3. Teach SORRY and EXCUSE ME to someone in your house.

Hands learn by doing. Slow and clear beats fast and sloppy — every time.

Vocabulary — words to keep

WordSpellingWhat the sign doesA line to remember it by
HELLOHelloTip your hand out and away from your head once, like a small wave.Hello starts at your forehead — a wave that begins like a salute.
GOODBYEGoodbyeFold your fingers down toward your palm two or three times.Goodbye is your fingers waving, not your whole arm.
GOOD MORNINGGood MorningGOOD: flat hand at your lips moves forward and down onto your other palm.Good morning — good words, then the sun rises.
PLEASEPleaseRub your hand in a slow circle on your chest.Please is a circle rubbed over your heart.
THANK YOUThank YouMove your hand forward and a little down, toward the person, like blowing a kiss — but starting from your chin.Thank you starts at your chin and travels to the person.
YOU'RE WELCOMEYou'Re WelcomeSweep your hand in a gentle arc from one side of your body to the other.You're welcome sweeps across like opening a door for someone.
SORRYSorryRub the fist in a circle on your chest.Sorry and please both circle the chest — sorry is a fist, please is flat.
EXCUSE MEExcuse MeBrush your fingertips across your other palm twice, like brushing crumbs off a table.Excuse me brushes past, politely.
HOW ARE YOUHow Are YouHOW: touch the fingertips of both bent hands together, then roll your stronger hand forward.How are you — roll the question forward, then point to them.

← Lesson 1 Lesson 3 →