Yesterday in ASL: How to Sign “Yesterday” in American Sign Language in 2026

Learning how to sign yesterday in ASL is an important step for anyone building an American Sign Language vocabulary around time, dates, daily activities, and past events. The sign is relatively simple, but understanding its handshape, movement, placement, and use in an ASL sentence makes it much easier to communicate naturally.

In American Sign Language (ASL), “yesterday” means the day before today. It is commonly used when discussing something that happened previously, such as what we ate, where we went, what we studied, or what happened at work or school. Reliable ASL references describe a standard version using the dominant hand near the cheek and moving it backward.

How to Sign “Yesterday” in ASL

The most commonly taught version of YESTERDAY begins with the dominant hand positioned near the lower cheek. Lifeprint identifies an A-handshape as a recommended version, while other ASL references describe the hand as a dominant “10” handshape with the thumb contacting the lower cheek.

To perform the sign:

1. Begin with your dominant hand near the lower portion of your cheek.
2. Keep the hand close to the side of your face.
3. Move the hand backward, toward the area behind the cheek.
4. Finish the movement slightly farther back toward the ear or behind the cheek.

The backward movement is an important part of the sign because it visually establishes the idea of a time that has already passed.

The precise handshape and appearance can vary among signers. Like many ASL signs, there can be regional, stylistic, and individual variations, so seeing a slightly different version does not necessarily mean that the signer is incorrect.

YESTERDAY ASL Handshape and Movement

For beginners, the easiest way to remember the sign is to focus on the combination of handshape + cheek location + backward movement.

Lifeprint presents an A-handshape version and also discusses a Y-handshape variation. The resource recommends the A-handshape version for learners while noting that Deaf signers do use the Y version as well.

The movement is particularly important. The hand starts around the cheek and moves backward, representing a point in time that is behind the present moment.

This makes “yesterday” different from signs such as TODAY and TOMORROW, which are also commonly taught as part of the ASL vocabulary for time. Lifeprint places YESTERDAY alongside TODAY, TOMORROW, TIME, and related temporal signs in its instructional materials.

A useful memory aid is to think:

Today = now.
Yesterday = behind now.
Tomorrow = ahead of now.

This conceptual approach can help beginners remember the direction of the movement rather than memorizing an isolated hand gesture.

What Does “Yesterday” Mean in ASL?

The English word “yesterday” means the calendar day immediately preceding today. ASL uses the corresponding sign to establish that an event occurred on that previous day. Handspeak similarly defines YESTERDAY as the day before today.

For example, if today is Tuesday, “yesterday” refers to Monday. If today is Saturday, “yesterday” refers to Friday.

The sign can be used when talking about:

• What happened yesterday
• Where someone went yesterday
• What someone ate yesterday
• Yesterday’s school activities
• Yesterday’s work
• Yesterday’s weather
• Past conversations
• Previous appointments or events

Because YESTERDAY is a time-related sign, it can also help establish the timeframe for an entire statement.

How to Use YESTERDAY in ASL Sentences

One of the most useful things to understand about YESTERDAY in ASL is that ASL does not simply copy English sentence structure.

ASL commonly establishes a time reference at the beginning of a sentence. Lifeprint’s grammar resources explain that a time sign such as YESTERDAY can establish the tense or timeframe before the rest of the statement.

For example, a simplified ASL gloss might be:

YESTERDAY I PAINT MY CAR.

The English translation would be:

“I painted my car yesterday.”

Another example could be:

YESTERDAY YOU EAT HOW-MANY TIME?

This corresponds to asking how many times someone ate yesterday. Lifeprint uses a similar practice sentence in its ASL lesson material.

Another useful example is:

YESTERDAY SCHOOL FINISH, WHAT-DO YOU?

Depending on context, this can communicate the idea of asking what someone did after school yesterday. Lifeprint provides related examples involving YESTERDAY and AFTER.

The key lesson is that YESTERDAY can establish the timeframe, so an additional past-tense marker is not automatically required.

YESTERDAY vs. TODAY and TOMORROW in ASL

Learning YESTERDAY becomes easier when it is studied alongside TODAY and TOMORROW.

These three signs are fundamental time concepts:

Lifeprint explains that ASL can express TODAY through combinations involving NOW and DAY, while YESTERDAY and TOMORROW have their own established signs.

Understanding these relationships is useful because ASL often organizes information around time first, followed by the subject and action.

For example, when telling a story, we might first establish YESTERDAY, then explain what happened. This provides the listener with the temporal context before the main information arrives.

Common Variations of the YESTERDAY ASL Sign

ASL signs can have variations, and YESTERDAY is no exception.

One commonly taught variation uses an A-handshape, while another uses a Y-handshape. Lifeprint specifically discusses both versions and notes that Deaf signers may use the Y version naturally.

Handspeak also records an older ASL form involving a Y-handshape and a backward movement from the cheek toward the ear or farther behind the shoulder. This historical information illustrates how signs can have variations across time and communities.

Beginners should therefore avoid assuming that every difference in handshape or movement represents a completely different word.

When learning ASL, it is better to prioritize clear communication, consistency, and exposure to fluent Deaf signers rather than becoming overly concerned when two reliable sources show slightly different forms.

Tips for Learning “Yesterday” in ASL

To remember how to sign yesterday in ASL, practice the sign together with other time expressions.

Start by practicing:

YESTERDAY → TODAY → TOMORROW

Then use each word in short sentences.

For example:

• YESTERDAY I WORK.
• YESTERDAY I STUDY.
• YESTERDAY I WATCH MOVIE.
• TODAY I WORK.
• TOMORROW I SCHOOL.

This approach helps develop ASL sentence structure rather than simply memorizing vocabulary.

We should also pay attention to facial expression, body position, timing, and natural movement. ASL is a complete visual language, so communication involves substantially more than individual handshapes.

It is also helpful to learn YESTERDAY from reliable instructional resources and observe how fluent Deaf signers use the sign in real conversations. Lifeprint’s lessons include YESTERDAY within broader lessons covering days, weeks, months, and other time-related vocabulary.

Yesterday in ASL: Final Guide for 2026

The sign for YESTERDAY in American Sign Language is an essential time expression for beginners and intermediate learners. The standard form involves placing the dominant hand near the cheek and moving it backward, conveying the idea of a previous day.

The sign has recognized variations, including an A-handshape version and a Y-handshape version, so learners may encounter differences depending on the teacher, community, or signing style.

Most importantly, YESTERDAY is not simply a vocabulary word. It can function as a time-setting element in an ASL sentence. Placing it at the beginning can establish when an event occurred, allowing the remainder of the sentence to focus on the action or information being communicated.

For anyone learning ASL in 2026, practicing YESTERDAY alongside TODAY, TOMORROW, DAY, WEEK, MONTH, and YEAR provides a strong foundation for discussing schedules, memories, routines, and past events.