How To Sign Help in Sign Language

Everyone needs a helping hand or a “help” sign. If you need assistance or want to provide assistance to someone else, you’ll want to learn this essential sign language word.

Signing "Help":

  1. Hand Position for the Non-Dominant Hand: Lay your non-dominant hand flat, palm up. This hand will be stationary and acts like a platform.
  2. Hand Position for the Dominant Hand: Make a fist with your dominant hand, but extend the thumb up (like your generic, universal thumbs up).
  3. Placement and Movement: Position your dominant hand (the one in a fist with the thumb up) above the non-dominant hand. Then move your dominant hand down toward the palm of your non-dominant hand and then lift it as if the non-dominant hand is "helping" the dominant hand up. The movement suggests one hand aiding or lifting the other.
  4. Facial Expression: Your facial expression should match the context in which you're asking for or offering help. For example, if you're asking for assistance, you might look concerned or inquisitive. If offering help, you could look reassuring.

Conclusion

Using the term "help" in sign language is vital for effective communication, fostering social connections, promoting individual growth, and building a more inclusive and supportive environment for all.

When signing it yourself isn't enough

Learning to sign is a great start. For the moments that have to be right (a medical appointment, a parent-teacher meeting, a legal conversation) Ava connects you with a credentialed ASL interpreter over video in the Ava app, on demand or scheduled ahead. Available 24/7, with live captions included.

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