Basic Auslan signs every beginner should learn first

Greetings and introductions

Begin with the signs you’d use in the first thirty seconds of meeting someone: hello, good, how are you, my name is, and nice to meet you. Pair these with the Auslan fingerspelling alphabet so you can spell your own name, the most common thing beginners are asked to do.

Courtesy signs

Politeness signs are short, frequent, and instantly useful: please, thank you, sorry, and excuse me. They’re also among the first signs Deaf people will notice you making the effort to use.

Conversation essentials

As a learner, your most valuable signs are the ones that keep a conversation going when you get stuck:

• Yes and no
• Again: to ask someone to repeat a sign
• Slow down: invaluable in your first real conversations
• I don’t understand and I’m learning Auslan
• Help, want, and more: versatile everyday building blocks

Why facial expression matters as much as your hands

In Auslan, facial expression and body movement aren’t decoration. They are part of the grammar. Raised eyebrows can mark a question; mouth patterns and head movement change meaning. This is why learning from static images or written descriptions falls short: you need to see whole signs, produced naturally by fluent signers, to learn them accurately.

It’s also worth knowing that Auslan has regional variation. The northern dialect (New South Wales, Queensland) and southern dialect (Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania) differ in some vocabulary. Number signs are a well-known example, though signers across Australia understand each other without difficulty.

How to practise your first signs

1. Watch native signers on video and copy the whole sign: handshape, movement, and facial expression together.
2. Practise little and often. Five minutes a day beats an hour once a week for building muscle memory.
3. Use new signs in context. Sign “thank you” when someone holds a door; greet your pet in Auslan. Real use makes signs stick.
4. Test yourself. Recognising a sign is easier than producing it, so quiz yourself both ways.

Frequently asked questions

What Auslan signs should I learn first?

Start with greetings (hello, how are you), courtesy signs (please, thank you, sorry), and conversation essentials (yes, no, again, slow down, my name is). These cover the moments you'll actually face when meeting a Deaf person for the first time.

Are Auslan signs the same across Australia?

Mostly, but not entirely. Auslan has two broad regional dialects: a northern dialect (New South Wales and Queensland) and a southern dialect (Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania), with differences in some vocabulary, including number signs. Signers from different states still understand each other easily.

Can I learn Auslan signs from pictures?

Pictures are a poor substitute for video. Most Auslan signs involve movement, and facial expression carries grammatical meaning, so a static image misses much of the sign. Learning from video of native signers, and practising along, is far more effective.

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