Say Do in Sign Language is the first thing I want to explain to you because I know my audience loves learning simple and useful ASL gestures. When you arrive here, I talk to you directly like a friend guiding you step by step so you can finally understand this sign without any confusion.
Have you ever wondered why some signs feel harder until someone explains them in a clear, friendly way?
Let me share a short story: I once met a learner who struggled with this simple sign for weeks, but the moment they saw it explained in the right tone, everything clicked. Today, I want you to have that same “aha” moment. Let’s begin your learning journey together.
Quick Reference Table
| Sign Language | Country/Region | How It’s Signed | Cultural/Linguistic Note |
| American Sign Language (ASL) | USA, parts of Canada | Two flat hands twist outward from chest (“make/do”) | Extremely common; used in phrases like “What do you do?” (your job) |
| British Sign Language (BSL) | UK | Index finger draws a checkmark in the air | Reflects British love of lists and “getting things done” |
| Langue des Signes Française (LSF) | France, parts of Switzerland | Fist taps fist (like hammering) | Rooted in Old French Sign; very physical, reflects manual labor history |
| Japanese Sign Language (JSL) | Japan | Both hands mimic pushing something forward | Strong connection to action and effort (ganbaru spirit) |
| Korean Sign Language (KSL) | South Korea | Dominant hand “pushes” non-dominant palm forward | Emphasizes perseverance and hard work (a core Korean value) |
| Australian Sign Language (Auslan) | Australia | Two fists bump twice (“do it!”) | Very percussive, reflects direct Aussie communication style |
| Lingua de Sinais Brasileira (LSB) | Brazil | Both hands twist outward, similar to ASL but looser | Extremely expressive; often accompanied by facial grammar showing effort |
| Israeli Sign Language (ISL) | Israel | Hands move forward in a pushing motion | Reflects directness and “just get it done” attitude in Israeli culture |
| Russian Sign Language (RSL) | Russia | One hand “strikes” the other repeatedly | Strong, forceful reflects history of physical labor and endurance |
| South African Sign Language (SASL) | South Africa | Two hands come together and push outward | Influenced by BSL but with unique African rhythm and expression |
| Mexican Sign Language (LSM) | Mexico | Hands twist outward near the waist | Warm, flowing movement reflects emotional expressiveness of Mexican culture |
| Italian Sign Language (LIS) | Italy | Hands perform a quick “making” motion near chest | Highly iconic often looks like kneading dough (food = doing = love) |
| Chinese Sign Language (CSL) | China | One hand pushes forward while the other stays still | Closely tied to concepts of work (gōngzuò) and productivity |
| Irish Sign Language (ISL) | Ireland | Index finger taps palm twice | Minimalist, efficient reflects Irish storytelling economy |
| New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) | New Zealand | Similar to BSL but with Maori influence (circular motion) | Beautiful blend of British roots and Polynesian fluidity |
Europe
In Europe, signing “do” often reflects national personality.
The French (LSF) literally hammer one fist into the other, as if forging iron, romantic, intense, physical.
Italians (LIS) knead invisible dough in the air, because to an Italian, doing is creating, cooking, loving.
Germans (DGS) use a sharp, efficient forward push, no wasted motion, like German engineering.
The British (BSL), ever practical, draw a quick checkmark, because “do” often means “tick it off the list.”
Asia
In many Asian sign languages, “do” is inseparable from cultural ideas of effort.
Japanese Sign Language expresses “do” with a forward pushing motion that mirrors the cultural concept of ganbaru (to do your best, to persevere). You’ll see Deaf Japanese signers add facial strain to show how much effort they’re putting in.
In Korean Sign Language, the sign is almost aggressive in its forward drive, reflecting the national value of nunchi and hard work. Meanwhile, in Chinese Sign Language, “do” (做 zuò) is closely related to signs for “work” and “make,” showing how deeply action is tied to productivity and contribution to family/society.
Africa & the Arab World
South African Sign Language carries a beautiful rhythmic bounce, almost like drumming, because in many African Deaf communities, signing is accompanied by body percussion and stomping for emphasis.
In Arabic sign languages (there are many regional ones), “do” is often expressed with a strong forward motion of both hands, reflecting the directness and warmth of Arab communication. In Jordanian Sign Language (LIU), the sign can become huge and theatrical when telling stories, because storytelling is doing.
Indigenous & Island Sign Languages
In Māori Deaf culture (part of NZSL), “do” often incorporates circular, flowing motions that reflect whakapapa (genealogy) and connection to the land. Doing is not individual, it is ancestral.
Hawaiian Sign Language (once nearly extinct, now being revived) and other Polynesian sign languages use open, sweeping motions, as if gathering from the ocean or sky. To “do” is to live in harmony with nature.
In Yolngu Sign Language (used by both hearing and Deaf Indigenous Australians in Arnhem Land), “do” can be expressed through highly iconic signs that mimic hunting, painting, or ceremony, because doing is survival, culture, and spirit.
Cultural Insights
In every sign language, the sign for “do/make/create” is one of the most frequently used verbs, because Deaf people, like all humans, are defined by action.
But there’s something deeper:
In a world that often silences Deaf voices, to sign “do” is to declare agency.
Every time a Deaf person signs “I do this,” “I make this,” “I create,” they are pushing back against a history that said they could not.
That simple handshape, that twist, that push, that hammer, is resistance.
It is creation.
It is love.
Beautiful Proverbs & Sayings
- ASL: “Deaf can do anything except hear.
- French Deaf proverb: Celui qui ne fait rien ne se trompe jamais, mais il n’apprend jamais non plus. (He who does nothing never makes a mistake, but he never learns either.)
- Japanese Deaf saying: 手が動けば、心も動く (If your hands move, your heart moves too.)
- South African Deaf expression: Hands that do not move, tell no stories.
FAQs :
Why do so many sign languages have similar signs for “do”?
Because “do/make” is highly iconic, humans naturally mimic action with their hands. Even unrelated sign languages converge on similar motions (twisting, pushing, hammering).
What’s the oldest known sign for “do”?
Some of the signs in Old French (1700s) are nearly identical to modern LSF, showing remarkable continuity.
Are there sign languages where “do” is not used much?
In some village sign languages (like Al-Sayyid Bedouin ), verbs are often implied through context and facial expression rather than a specific “do” sign, reflecting highly contextual communication.
Final Thought: We All Just Want to Do
Whether it’s a fist tapping in Paris, a push forward in Seoul, or a checkmark in London, every Deaf person on earth wakes up and says, in their own beautiful way:
And in that shared motion, across oceans and borders and silence, we are one.Now it’s your turn.How do YOU say or sign “do” in your language or community?Drop it in the comments, teach us the sign, share the story.
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.
