To sign I love you in American Sign Language (ASL), point out your thumb and index finger to form an “L”. While keeping them extended, lift your little finger. Your middle and ring finger keep touching your palm. Finally, direct your hand towards the person you are talking to.
I-L-Y is a powerful sign!
The sign for I love you (I-L-Y) became 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!
If you want to express romantic love to someone, you would typically use a different expression as shown in the video below:
Frequently asked questions
What is the origin of the sign I-L-Y?
The sign for “I love you” is a combination of the fingerspelled letter I, L and Y. Your thumb and index finger together form an L, while your little finger forms an I. In addition, your thumb and little finger is expressing a Y. So if you combine all three handshapes, you get I-L-Y for I love you. Fascinating, isn’t it?
Do I use my left or my right hand for signing I love you?
For signs like I love you that use only one hand, you would typically use the hand you also write with. So in case you are left-handed, you would normally use your left hand for signing “I love you”.
Additional useful sentences using I love you
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