How to sign "yesterday" in ASL
How to Sign "Yesterday"
“Yesterday” is signed by bringing your dominant “Y” handshape from near your cheek back toward shoulder:
- Form a “Y” handshape (thumb and pinky extended, other fingers closed).
- Start near your jaw or cheek.
- Pull the hand backward toward your shoulder in a fluid motion.
Tips
- The backward pull suggests the past—think “folding back time.”
- Keep the motion smooth—not jerky or overly dramatic.
Common Mistakes
- Using a straight “A” shape rather than a clear “Y.”
- Moving hand forward or downward—must be pulled back past cheek.
Think: “Y at cheek, pull back—yesterday.”