Signs for SURE

"How do you say 'sure' in American Sign Language?"

ASL signs for "sure"

Meaning: Confident in what one thinks or knows; not having any doubt that one is right about something.

Pronunciation (sign description): Dominant forefinger (handshape), palm facing left if right-handed (orientation), tip of forefinger in contact with the chin (location), moves forward from the chin once (movement). In some contexts, slightly nod once (NMS).

Learner tip: Don't confuse this similar sign with TRUE (different stress, tone).

Usage examples: "Are you sure?", "not sure", "Sure, why not?". You can use it in general contexts.

Modifications including intonation and movement of this sign can convey variants of meaning used by native and fluent Deaf signers.

Contextual variation: used with emphasis to reply to a request that one is happy to do something.

Pronunciation (sign description): Fingerspelled loan.

Usage example (usually used by Deaf native and fluent signers in few contexts): "Sure! I'll be happy to help".

Vocabulary

Related signs: CERTAIN, CONVINCED, POSITIVE.

Opposite: UNSURE.

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