Sign for 8 in ASL
Quick answer: The sign for 8 in ASL is made by touching the thumb to the middle finger while keeping the other fingers extended. It represents the number eight.
How to Sign 8 in ASL
To sign 8, hold up your dominant hand and touch the tip of your thumb to the tip of your middle finger. Keep the index, ring, and pinky fingers extended and visible.
This sign is used for the number eight in counting, ages, addresses, phone numbers, dates, scores, quantities, rankings, and other number-related contexts.
| Dominant Handshape | 8-hand with the thumb and middle finger touching; index, ring, and pinky extended |
|---|---|
| Non-Dominant Handshape | Not used |
| Location | Neutral signing space in front of the body |
| Palm Orientation | Usually palm outward or slightly angled outward for clear readability |
| Movement | No movement; hold the number clearly |
| Non-Manual Markers | Neutral expression |
When to Use This Sign
Use 8 when counting, giving quantities, discussing ages, phone numbers, addresses, dates, time, math, scores, or rankings.
- counting objects
- giving a quantity
- talking about age or grade level
- using dates, addresses, or phone numbers
- building number fluency in ASL
Eight is one of those number signs where finger placement really matters.
Common Mistakes
- Touching the thumb to the wrong finger
- Confusing 8 with 7 or 9
- Closing the index, ring, or pinky too much
- Rotating the palm so the handshape is hard to read
- Moving the hand when the number should stay still
Example Sentences
ASL gloss: BOOK I HAVE EIGHT
English: I have eight books.
ASL gloss: EIGHT PEOPLE ARRIVE
English: Eight people arrived.
ASL gloss: MY CHILD AGE EIGHT
English: My child is eight years old.
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