How to sign “East” in ASL
The BSL sign for “East” isn't in our dictionary yet — it will be fingerspelled in BSL mode, never replaced with this ASL sign.
Step by step
- Shape your dominant hand into an E handshape, with the fingers curled and the thumb tucked.
- Hold the E hand up at shoulder height with the palm facing forward.
- Move the hand in a short straight line toward your right.
- Keep the handshape fixed while it travels; east sits to the right on a map.
- Use a neutral face, and note the same E hand moves other ways for north, south, and west.
Practice tip
On a map east is to the right, so the E hand simply slides right.
Fingerspell “East”
Letter by letter — a handy backup if you forget the sign above. This is not the sign itself.
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.