How to Sign "Difficult" in Sign Language

The sign for "difficult" or "hard" conveys the notion of facing challenges or complexities. Here's how to sign "difficult":

Signing "Difficult"

  1. Hand Position: Begin with both hands in "2" handshapes, with the index and middle fingers bent.
  2. Starting Placement: Hold both hands in front of you, palms facing each other. The hands should be at about chest level.
  3. Movement: Bring both hands closer together, placing the dominant hand on top of the non-dominant hand.
  4. Facial Expression: The facial expression can be one of exertion or effort, emphasizing the challenge or difficulty associated with the word.

Note:

You can also use your facial expression and hand movement to show exactly how hard something is. If something is extremely difficult, you can place your hands harder on top of each other with an exaggerated facial expression.

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Learn how to sign "easy."

When signing it yourself isn't enough

Learning to sign is a great start. For the moments that have to be right (a medical appointment, a parent-teacher meeting, a legal conversation) Ava connects you with a credentialed ASL interpreter over video in the Ava app, on demand or scheduled ahead. Available 24/7, with live captions included.

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