How to sign "hello" in ASL

How to Sign "Hello"

“Hello” is signed by a simple salute gesture from your forehead:

• Use your dominant hand with fingers together and palm facing out.
• Place the hand at your forehead (like a military-style salute).
• Move it outward in a short arc away from your head.

Watch a demo here

Tips

• Think of greeting someone politely — it’s a “formal wave.”
• Accompany with eye contact or a smile to make it warm.

Common Mistakes

• Waving side to side — “hello” in ASL is more like a salute than a wave.
• Using a bent hand or disconnected motion.

Think: “Hand to forehead, send a polite hello.”