In American Sign Language (ASL), sign “dad” or “daddy” by making the number 5 with your dominant hand (fingers spread wide). Tap your thumb against your forehead twice.
Forming the sign in three moves
Practice each part slowly first, then link them into one fluid motion.
1. Open your hand fully
Spread all five fingers apart, palm facing sideways. This is the same “open 5” shape used across several ASL family signs.
2. Line up with the forehead
Bring your thumb to hover just above your eyebrow, near the temple. The forehead is the key detail that separates Dad from Mom.
3.Tap, don’t press
Touch your thumb to your forehead with one or two quick, light taps. Keep the motion small and relaxed, not a firm push.
Don’t mix them up
Dad vs. Mom: same shape, different spot
ASL pairs several family signs this way — identical handshape and movement, with location carrying the meaning.
Dad
Thumb taps the forehead, near the temple.
Mom
Thumb taps the chin, at the bottom of the face.
Fix these first
Common mistakes to avoid
× Tapping the chin instead of the forehead
This is the single most common slip, and it accidentally signs Mom instead of Dad.
× Closing the fingers
A fist or half-closed hand isn’t the correct handshape. Keep all five fingers spread open.
× Pressing too hard
The movement is a light, quick tap, not a firm press held against the forehead.
× Tapping too many times
One or two taps is standard. Repeated tapping beyond that reads as exaggerated or unclear.
Keep learning
Related family signs
Dad connects to a small family of related ASL signs worth learning together.
Practice with real feedback
Reading about a sign only goes so far. Try it in front of a mirror, then check your handshape and location against the steps above until the tap feels natural.
Quick check
Handshape: open 5, palm to the side
Location: forehead, near temple
Movement: 1–2 light taps
Not this: chin (= Mom), closed fist, firm press
Learn All common and popular sign language words at our site. We provide hand thumb sign images.
Questions about signing Dad
What is the difference between the signs for Dad and Mom?
Dad and Mom share the same open-5 handshape and tapping movement, but the location changes the meaning. Dad taps the forehead near the temple, while Mom taps the chin. This forehead-to-chin pattern shows up across other paired family signs in ASL too.
Is there a different sign for Dad and Father in ASL?
The handshape and location are the same for both. Most signers use a single tap for the more formal Father and a light double tap for the casual Dad or Daddy, similar to how spoken English shifts tone between the two words.
Can I fingerspell Dad instead of using the sign?
You can fingerspell D-A-D, and beginners sometimes do while learning, but the dedicated sign is standard usage across the Deaf community and is faster and clearer in everyday conversation.
What is the most common mistake people make signing Dad?
The most common mistake is tapping the chin instead of the forehead, which turns the sign into Mom. Another frequent error is closing the fingers instead of keeping the hand fully spread open.
