PLEASE in sign language

In this word entry, learn how to sign 'please' and variants. And watch a short video how the baby utters the magical word to get something she wishes.

Drawing of PLEASE — How do you sign PLEASE?

ASL signs for "please"

How do you say 'please' in ASL (American Sign Language)?

Meaning: Used as a polite addition to requests, commands, etc.; kindly.

Pronunciation/articulation: Dominant horizontal flat hand (handshape), palm in (orientation) on the chest (location), moves in a circular motion -- forward, not backward from the signer's perspective -- clockwise motion(?).

Learner tip: Not to confuse this ASL sign with "PLEASED" or 'PLEASURE" in contexts.

More common ASL signs: THANK-YOU, WELCOME, excuse me, SORRY.

Baby signing "please" in ASL

See how the ASL-speaking baby acquired the ASL word "please" and its variants in contexts and how the phonological structure developed in a time-lapse video. Note that it's not "baby sign language" which is an unacceptable cultural appropriation along with a number of misconceptions and myths. It's no more illusion than "baby speech language".*

At about age 1;3, this baby in the video above acquired the concept "please" in ASL during the one-word stage of language development. During this similar time frame, she also picked up the new word "sorry".

At age 1;9 in the video clip, the baby referred to the family video album which she wanted to watch the video clips of herself (good-bye to the dear ol' photo albums).

At age 2;1, she signed "please" before "hot chocolate". It's very subtle that can be very easily overlooked.

The toddler sometimes signed with the opposite hand. During the first 2 years, it's not unusual that toddlers sometimes sign with the other hand until the dominant hand become in stone.

* Studies in neuroscience and linguistics including first-language acquisition in signed languages show that sign language is on a par with speech language. That is, as neuroscientist Dr. Petitto noted, language is amodal.

Slang and colloquialisms

If you want something or request for something so badly that you'd want to really beg, beg, beg to convince your buddy or little brother or older sister, you probably use a slang, bringing two flat hands together (the similar sign as "pray") with the mouthing "ppp". Get the picture? :)

Or, you'd probably say "please" with kind of a demand or a command. The movement of the ASL sign "please" is inflected to more of a brief non-circular motion and firm facial expression. You'd probably find this with a Deaf parent making a firm request of a stubborn child to do something. I suppose it's similar with the vocal tone in the hearing world, right? In disguise, it's a parental beg, ha. Not really. :)

Usage/Grammar

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Language learning, language play, etc.

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Some word entries have one of some tidbits in this section, such as minimal pairs of sign words, rhymes, etc. usually related to or associated with its word entry.

Written ASL

[Note: ASL writing is not an official standard. This sign language writing remains in a state of open space to allow room for experiment, evolution, and improvement.]

ASL writing for PLEASE

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Search Tips and Pointers

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If you cannot find (perhaps overlook) a word but you can still see a list of links, then keep looking until the links disappear! Sharpening your eye or maybe refine your alphabetical index skill. :)

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ASL has its own grammar and structure in sentences that works differently from English. For plurals, verb inflections, word order, etc., learn grammar in the "ASL Learn" section. For search in the dictionary, use the present-time verbs and base words. If you look for "said", look up the word "say". Likewise, if you look for an adjective word, try the noun or vice versa. E.g. The ASL signs for French and France are the same. If you look for a plural word, use a singular word.