How to sign “Years” in ASL

Time

BSL and ASL are different languages — this is the American sign. See the BSL sign for “Years” instead

Step by step

  1. Hold your non-dominant hand in an S fist in front of your chest — the sun.
  2. Shape your dominant hand into a 1, index finger pointing up.
  3. Circle the 1 hand all the way around the fist, like the earth orbiting the sun.
  4. Close the circling hand into an S fist as it completes the orbit.
  5. One full circle equals one year — repeat the circle for multiple years.

Practice tip

Plural of “Year” — sign the base sign (often repeated) for more than one.

Fingerspell “Years”

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

ASL handshape for letter YASL handshape for letter EASL handshape for letter AASL handshape for letter RASL handshape for letter S

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.

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