How to sign “Pet” in ASL
BSL and ASL are different languages — this is the American sign. See the BSL sign for “Pet” instead
Step by step
- Hold your non-dominant hand flat in front of you with its palm facing down.
- Lay your dominant flat hand on the back of it, palm down.
- Stroke forward along the back of the hand twice, like petting an animal's back.
- Keep your dominant fingers together and make the strokes long and gentle.
- Soften your expression — done gently, the sign doubles as the verb 'to pet'.
Practice tip
Gentle strokes mean 'pet'; done extra carefully it reads as petting softly.
Fingerspell “Pet”
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.