How to Sign "First" in American Sign Language (ASL)

Hold up your index finger with your palm facing you and move it a bit forward to sign "first" in ASL. This simple gesture doubles as the sign for "number one" and has become a fundamental part of American Sign Language communication, reflecting its origins in the universal human tendency to show "one" with a single raised finger. Make the movement stronger when you're talking about being first in something or doing something for the first time. People use this basic sign everywhere, from chatting with friends to teaching in classrooms. The sign helps signers discuss order and sequence in both everyday talks and formal situations.