If you can’t sing, you can learn how to sing happy birthday in sign language. It is also a way for you to congratulate someone specially and interestingly.
There are many ways to do that because sign language is as diverse as the language we speak. Today, we’ll show you how to sing in American Sign Language (ASL) in three different ways.
Let’s warm up our bodies to prepare for an exciting song!
How To Sing Happy Birthday in Sign Language?
When you first learn sign language, it cannot be easy to remember. Relax and practice with pleasure; you will realize everything is easy.
Take a look at all three ways below, and choose a style you love to show your family and friends. You will surprise and satisfy them because you put so much effort into learning something.
Watch the pictorial instructions in this video:
Style 1: The Most Common Sign
We’re going to show you the ASL signs for the song “Happy Birthday“. Normally, if you were singing something, you wouldn’t sign every single word. But there are only six signs for this song.
So, it’s going to be easy. Let’s get started!
Step 1: The first word is “happy”. So, you’re going to brush your chest upward. And when you sign this word, you must smile because it doesn’t work if you were to frown.
Step 2: For the word “birthday”, you take your one hand. You’re going to touch your middle finger to your chin and then to your chest. It is the sign for “birthday”.
Step 3: To say the word “to”, you put one pointer on the other pointer.
Step 4: When you say “you”, you would be pointing to the birthday person.
Step 5: The next one would be “dear”. This word is a determinant of endearment, like sweetheart or honey. So, you’re going to touch your pointer fingers. Then, you’re going to trace a little heart over your heart.
Step 6: This is where you put in the name. So, to do a name sign, you put the first letter of that person’s name. For example, the name “Georgia” starts with the letter “G”. You would tap your shoulder twice.
If you don’t know the alphabet, you might want to check out the American manual alphabet, and then you can learn them all. Now, we’re going to show you a couple.
For the “G” letter, as we said, you would tap your shoulder twice. In addition, you could do it up at your chin if you’re a girl. If you’re a boy, put your hand up to your head.
For the “V” of the name “Valerie”, you will make a “V” with your pointer and the next finger. Then, tap it to your shoulder twice.
Style 2: The Simplest Way
- Tap gently on your chest with both hands open. The fingers should be touching, and the fingers should be thumbs.
- Bring your hands to your face as soon as they touch your chest, lift them and turn them back to hit your chest again. Your hands should only go to your face for about half a second.
- Cross your right arm across your chest to your left shoulder and make a circular motion upward twice.
Style 3: The Two Signs Compounded
- Tap gently on your chest with both hands. The fingers should be touching and the right thumb outward.
- Bring your hands to your face as soon as you touch your chest.
- Lift them and return them in a circular motion to hit the chest again. Your hands should only go to your face for half a second.
- Place your left hand in front of your belly. Your palm should be up.
- Place your right hand on your stomach, move it away from your body and place it on your left hand.
- Point your left hand and index finger towards the right side of your body. Support your right elbow on the top of your left index finger.
- Bend the fingers of your right hand, except for the pointer, so that the middle finger touches the thumb. Your nameless and pinky fingers should also be in a circle.
- Point your right index finger towards the sky. It is the letter “d”.
- Lower your right arm until it touches your left elbow.
Learn different signs for birthday in American sign language with this video:
Final Words
So, this is the most detailed instruction on how to sing happy birthday in sign language. We hope your guys are going to enjoy it!
You will also find many ways to sing this song on our website. If you’re looking for how to sing happy birthday with lyrics, we have Korean, French, Spanish, and more languages available.
Thanks for reading, and see you on the upcoming exciting topics!
