How to sign different colors in American Sign Language

July 11, 2023
by Stacey Valle

Learn how to sign different colors in American Sign Language (ASL) online! You can slow down our ASL videos by clicking the settings on the bottom right corner of the video –> click playback speed –> then adjust the speed.

How to sign colors, red, yellow, orange, green, blue, and purple in ASL:

Colors: Wiggle the 5 handshapes on your chin.
Red: Touch the tip of your pointer finger to your chin and bend it downward.
Yellow: Shake the Y handshape with your dominant hand
Orange: Squeeze the S handshape on your chin with your dominant hand
Green: Shake the G handshape with your dominant hand
Blue: Shake the B handshape with your dominant hand
Purple: Shake the B handshape with your dominant hand

How to sign pink, white, black, grey, brown, tan, silver, and gold in ASL:

Pink: With P handshape, touch the tip of your pink finger to your chin and bend it downward.
White: with 5 handshapes, face your palm toward your chest with your thumb extended, then pull the hand away as you tough all the fingers and thumbs together.
Grey: Pass your fingers through each other with both opened 5 handshapes
Brown: Slide the B handshape down (from top to bottom) on your check with your dominant hand
Tan: Slide the T handshape down (from top to bottom) on your check with your dominant hand
Silver: Point your index finger at your ear, then move away from it and form the S handshape with a small shake
Gold: Point your index finger at your ear, then move away from it and form the Y handshape with a small shake

Whether you’re right-handed or left-handed, you can sign with your dominant hand. If you are ambidextrous, chose one hand to use as your dominant hand and stick with it. Colors are one of the basic signs to learn as a beginner. We shared more basic American Sign Language words that you should know as a beginner here.

With our Start ASL courses, you can start learning anytime and learn ASL online at your own pace.