How to sign “Copying” in ASL

Everyday Life

The BSL sign for “Copying” isn't in our dictionary yet — it will be fingerspelled in BSL mode, never replaced with this ASL sign.

Step by step

  1. Hold your non-dominant hand flat in front of you, palm facing up, like a blank sheet of paper.
  2. Reach your dominant open hand out over the flat hand with all five fingers spread.
  3. Pinch the fingertips and thumb of the dominant hand together, as if lifting an invisible print off the page.
  4. Pull the pinched hand back toward yourself in one smooth, short motion.
  5. Set the pinched fingertips down onto the flat palm of your non-dominant hand.
  6. Keep your expression neutral; the pinch-and-lift motion is what makes the sign readable.

Practice tip

“Copying” is signed with the base COPY sign — ASL/BSL marks ongoing action on the sign, not with a separate word.

Fingerspell “Copying”

Letter by letter — a handy backup if you forget the sign above. This is not the sign itself.

ASL handshape for letter CASL handshape for letter OASL handshape for letter PASL handshape for letter YASL handshape for letter IASL handshape for letter NASL handshape for letter G

See all ASL handshapes in the alphabet reference

Text-based guide researched from established ASL references (Lifeprint, university and public-health materials) and rewritten in original words. Signer-created photos and videos are a planned future upgrade.

Browse all 1121 signs in the dictionary