To sign "I love you" in American Sign Language (ASL), there are a few variations, but the most common one is to make an "L" with your thumb and index finger, and raise your pinky finger. Then, motion towards the person youre talking to with your hand. Here are the steps to follow:
- Make a fist, but not too tight.
- Lift up your pinky finger. This creates the sign language symbol for the personal pronoun "I."
- Lift up your index finger. This would resemble horns with the two fingers.
- Lift up your thumb. The index finger and thumb create the letter "L," and the pinky finger in concert with the thumb creates the "Y."
- Put the steps together all at once, and say, "I love you!"
This sign is a combination of the fingerspelled letters I, L, and Y. It is a powerful sign that has become a strong symbol in the Deaf Community and has since been spreading into the mainstream. It is not only being used to show a strong identification with the Deaf Community, but you can also utilize it in everyday conversations. You can even say goodbye or thank you with the I-L-Y sign.
