I’ll never forget the moment at a bustling international airport when a little girl, no older than six, tugged at her mother’s sleeve.
She couldn’t speak—her voice silenced by a rare condition—but her hands danced. With a gentle curve of fingers and a tilt of the wrist, she signed “Are you okay?” to a stranger who’d dropped a bag.
The stranger, from a different continent, didn’t know the girl’s spoken language, but the sign? It landed like a hug.
In that instant, the verb “are”—the quiet engine of questions, states, and existence—became a universal heartbeat.
Sign language turns the simplest word into a visible pulse of empathy.
And while every culture has its own way of voicing “are”, the signed versions remind us: we all ask, we all exist, we all care. Let’s travel the world, handshape by handshape, and discover how “are” lives in silence.
Quick Reference Table
| Language (Region) | Sign Description (Simplified) | Cultural/Linguistic Insight |
| American SL (ASL) | Open hand, palm up, circles near chin | Emphasizes inquiry; used in storytelling to “check in” emotionally |
| British SL (BSL) | Two fingers tap chest twice | Rooted in deaf education history; polite and direct |
| French SL (LSF) | Index finger draws small circle in front of mouth | Reflects French nuance for subtle questioning |
| Spanish SL (LSE) | Flat hand sweeps forward from chin | Often paired with raised eyebrows for warmth |
| Italian SL (LIS) | Palm-up hand rocks side-to-side | Expressive; mirrors Italian gesticulation culture |
| German SL (DGS) | “B” handshape taps temple | Logical, precise—mirrors German linguistic structure |
| Japanese SL (JSL) | Pinky and thumb extended, twists near face | Polite; avoids direct eye contact in formal contexts |
| Korean SL (KSL) | Two fingers form “V” and circle near cheek | Youth-driven evolution; influenced by K-pop fandom signs |
| Mandarin SL (CSL) | Index finger draws “?” in air | Visual pun on written Chinese question particle 吗 (ma) |
| Indian SL (ISL) | Open palm circles heart | Ties existence to emotional center; spiritual undertone |
| Arabic SL (ArSL – Saudi) | Index finger points up, then circles | Reflects Quranic emphasis on divine “being” |
| Swahili SL (Kenyan) | Two hands cross chest, open outward | Community-oriented; used in village greetings |
| Zulu SL (SASL) | Fist opens to flat hand near shoulder | Symbolizes “rising” into presence; ubuntu philosophy |
| Yoruba SL (Nigeria) | Fingers flutter upward from chest | Evokes ancestral spirits “being” with the living |
| Maori SL (NZSL) | Hand spirals upward like a fern frond | Represents growth and emergence—core to Maori worldview |
(Note: Sign descriptions are simplified for readability. Actual signs vary by region and dialect.)
European Sign Languages
In Europe, “are” is often a question of connection.
- French Sign Language (LSF): The circling finger near the mouth feels like blowing a kiss of curiosity. In France, where “Ça va?” is a national reflex, the sign mirrors that gentle check-in.
- Spanish Sign Language (LSE): The sweeping hand is theatrical—because in Spain, even a simple “¿Estás bien?” comes with a flamenco flourish.
- Italian Sign Language (LIS): The rocking palm? Pure Italian hand-talk. It’s as if the signer is saying, “Dimmi, come stai?” with their whole body.
- German Sign Language (DGS): The temple tap is efficient, like a philosophical ping: “Bist du?”—a nod to German existentialism.
Cultural thread: Europeans use “are” to bridge formality and intimacy. The sign is never just grammar—it’s an invitation.
Asian Sign Languages
Asia’s signs for “are” are miniature haikus of respect.
- Japanese Sign Language (JSL): The pinky-thumb twist is delicate, avoiding confrontation. In a culture where “Genki desu ka?” is asked with a bow, the sign preserves harmony.
- Korean Sign Language (KSL): The “V” circle near the cheek is playful—K-drama fans even use it in fan-signs to ask idols “Are you real?”
- Chinese Sign Language (CSL): Drawing a “?” in the air is a visual pun on the spoken 吗 (ma). It’s practical poetry.
- Indian Sign Language (ISL): Circling the heart ties “are” to atman (soul). Asking “are you?” is asking about someone’s essence.
- Arabic Sign Language (variations): From Morocco to Iraq, the upward point-then-circle reflects “Kayf haluk?”—a question rooted in Islamic hospitality.
Cultural thread: In Asia, “are” is never casual. It’s a ritual of acknowledging another’s humanity.
African Sign Languages
In Africa, “are” is woven into collective identity.
- Kenyan Sign Language (KSL): The cross-then-open gesture is a greeting in deaf villages—“Uko?” (Swahili for “are you here?”) means “are we together?”
- South African Sign Language (SASL): The fist-to-flat-hand rise embodies ubuntu—“I am because we are.”
- Nigerian Yoruba SL: Fluttering fingers evoke ancestors “being” present. A market trader might sign it to ask, “Are you (still) with us?”
- Egyptian SL: A palm-up lift mirrors the Nile’s flow—existence as a current.
Cultural thread: “Are” is plural. It asks not just about one person, but their place in the circle.
Indigenous & Island Sign Languages
For indigenous and island communities, “are” is tied to land and lineage.
- New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL): The fern-frond spiral is “Kei te pēhea koe?”—a question of growth.
- Hawaiian Sign Language (HSL): A wave-like motion reflects “Pehea ‘oe?”—being as fluid as the ocean.
- Cherokee SL (emerging): A hand rising from the earth asks “Are you still rooted?”
- Samoan SL: The open-hand bloom is a flower opening—“Oa mai oe?” means “Are you blooming?”
Cultural thread: “Are” is cyclical. It honors ancestors, present life, and future generations.
Cultural Insights
The verb “are” descends from Proto-Indo-European h₁és-ti—“to be.” But in sign? It’s older than speech.
- Ancient Mesopotamia: Clay tablets show hand gestures for “existence” in early deaf communities.
- Medieval Europe: Monastic sign languages (e.g., Cistercian) used “are” to ask about spiritual states during silence.
- Colonial resistance: Enslaved Africans in the Americas developed signs for “are you free?”—a coded rebellion.
Today, International Sign uses a simple palm-up circle for “are”—a pidgin born at deaf Olympics and conferences. It’s the closest thing we have to a universal verb.
Proverbs & Sayings About “Are”
- French: “Être, c’est être perçu.” (To be is to be perceived.) — Signed with eyes wide, hand to heart.
- Japanese: “Ima wa ima.” (Now is now.) — A single hand-tap for presence.
- Zulu: “Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu.” (A person is a person through people.) — Signed with hands linking.
- Maori: “Ko te wa hianga, ko te wa ora.” (The time of struggle is the time of life.) — A rising spiral.
FAQs
Q: Why do so many sign languages use circling motions?
A: Circles symbolize continuity—life, questions, existence. It’s a human instinct, not coincidence.
Q: What’s the oldest known sign for “are”?
A: A 14th-century monastic manuscript shows a palm-up lift—nearly identical to modern signs.
Q: Can hearing people use these signs?
A: Absolutely. In fact, signing “are you okay?” to a deaf stranger is a radical act of inclusion.
Conclusion
From a Parisian café to a Samoan lagoon, the sign for “are” is a silent passport. It doesn’t need a visa—just open hands and an open heart.
Next time you’re in a crowd, try it: palm up, gentle circle. Ask someone—anyone—“Are you here?” Watch their face light up. Because in every language, signed or spoken, “are” is the first step toward “we.”
Now it’s your turn. Drop a comment: How do you sign “are” in your local sign language? Or share a moment when a simple question changed everything. Let’s build a global chain of hands—one “are” at a time. 🙌
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Luna-Gracelyn, the creative mind behind Lingoow.com, writes with passion and clarity.
As a professional author, she simplifies complex topics for readers worldwide.
Her work inspires, educates, and connects people through powerful, easy-to-understand content.
