Master The Months In ASL: Your Complete Guide To Signing January Through December

Have you ever found yourself in a conversation, wanting to discuss a future event or past birthday, but stumbling when you needed to sign the specific month? Mastering months in ASL (American Sign Language) is a crucial step for anyone learning this beautiful language. It bridges the gap between basic vocabulary and real-world application, allowing you to discuss dates, plan appointments, and share stories with the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community with confidence. This comprehensive guide will transform you from a beginner to someone who can fluidly sign from January to December, understanding the nuances, abbreviations, and essential memory tools.

Why Are Months in ASL Typically Fingerspelled?

Before diving into the individual signs, it's fundamental to understand the core principle governing months in American Sign Language. Unlike signs for common nouns or verbs, the ASL signs for the months of the year are not typically unique, standardized gestures. Instead, they are normally fingerspelled, either in their official three-letter abbreviation (e.g., Jan, Feb) or, less commonly, in their full spelling. This practice is efficient and universally understood within the Deaf community.

The key to signing months in American Sign Language is a simple but critical decision: remember if the whole word is spelled or if an abbreviation is used. For almost all months, the three-letter abbreviation is the standard and preferred method. It's faster, clearer, and avoids ambiguity. For instance, signing J-A-N for January is standard, while spelling out J-A-N-U-A-R-Y is rare and time-consuming. This pattern holds true for Jan, Feb, March, April, May, June, July, Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov, and Dec. The consistency is your greatest ally.

The Non-Negotiable Foundation: The ASL Alphabet

You cannot effectively sign the months of the year in ASL without a solid grasp of the American Sign Language alphabet. This is your foundational toolkit. Every month sign is constructed from these 26 handshapes. Before you learn how to sign different months, invest time in practicing the manual alphabet until each letter is automatic, clear, and distinct. Pay special attention to letters that are easily confused: M/N, G/Q, 5/H, and B/V. Your clarity here directly impacts the clarity of your month signs. Use online resources, flashcards, and daily drills to build this muscle memory.

Signing the Concept of "Month" Itself

While we often discuss the specific months, the general concept of "month" has its own sign. To sign MONTH, hold your non-dominant hand flat, palm up, in front of you. With your dominant hand, form a flat "B" handshape (palm down) and tap the side of your thumb against the side of your non-dominant hand's thumb twice. This sign represents the passing of weeks within a monthly cycle. It's useful for phrases like "once a month" or "next month" when you haven't specified which month. Practice this foundational sign alongside the specific months to build a complete calendar vocabulary.

The Complete Guide: Signing All 12 Months

Here is a detailed breakdown of each month, focusing on the standard abbreviation. Remember, the ASL signs for the months of a year are usually fingerspelled in abbreviation. We'll list the common abbreviation, the fingerspelling sequence, and any notable variations or tips.

First Quarter: January, February, March

• JANUARY (JAN): Fingerspell J-A-N. This is straightforward. A helpful tip: associate JAN with January's position as the first month (J is the 10th letter, but think "J for Jumpstart").
• FEBRUARY (FEB): Fingerspell F-E-B. The "E" and "B" are common letters; ensure your "E" is a tight fist with fingers together, not loose.
• MARCH (MAR): Fingerspell M-A-R. No common initialized sign exists. Some advanced signers might use a quick "marching" motion with two fingers, but fingerspelling MAR is universally correct and preferred.

Second Quarter: April, May, June

• APRIL (APR): Fingerspell A-P-R. The "P" and "R" are distinct; the "R" uses two fingers crossed.
• MAY (MAY): Fingerspell M-A-Y. This is the only month where the abbreviation is the same as the full name. It's simple and direct.
• JUNE (JUN): Fingerspell J-U-N. Crucial Distinction:JUN for June vs. JUL for July. The difference is the second letter: U vs. I. Practice this pair repeatedly to avoid confusion.

Third Quarter: July, August, September

• JULY (JUL): Fingerspell J-U-L. As noted, the "U" makes it distinct from June's "U." Focus on the clear "L" handshape.
• AUGUST (AUG): Fingerspell A-U-G. The "G" is a common point of error; it uses the index and thumb together, not the whole fist.
• SEPTEMBER (SEP): Fingerspell S-E-P. The abbreviation is SEP, not "Sept." The "P" is key. Some older texts use SEPT, but SEP is modern standard.

Fourth Quarter: October, November, December

• OCTOBER (OCT): Fingerspell O-C-T. The "O" and "C" are simple; the "T" is a fist with thumb between index and middle fingers.
• NOVEMBER (NOV): Fingerspell N-O-V. Watch your "N" (two fingers down) vs. "M" (three fingers down).
• DECEMBER (DEC): Fingerspell D-E-C. A strong finish! The "D" is a pointing index with thumb up, "E" is a fist, and "C" is a curved hand.

Tools and Memory Aids for Mastering ASL Months

Learning 12 new fingerspelled sequences can feel daunting. We have some tools to help you remember. Here are actionable strategies:

1. The "JFMAMJJASOND" Mnemonic: This string of letters is the first letter of each month in order. Say it aloud: "J-F-M-A-M-J-J-A-S-O-N-D." It's a classic trick that works because it groups the double-J months (June/July) and highlights the pattern.
2. Association with Events: Link each month to a major holiday or personal event.
   • JAN = New Year's Day (J for "Jump into the New Year")
   • JUL = Independence Day (U for "U-S-A")
   • OCT = Halloween (O for "October")
   • DEC = Christmas (D for "December")
3. Spaced Repetition Systems (SRS): Use apps like Anki or Quizlet to create digital flashcards. The algorithm will quiz you on months just as you're about to forget them, maximizing retention.
4. Group Practice: Practice the months in groups of three (quarters) or by season. Say the month name aloud while fingerspelling it. This multi-sensory approach (auditory + visual + kinesthetic) solidifies memory.

Common Questions and Pitfalls to Avoid

Q: Is there ever a non-fingerspelled sign for a month?
A: Rarely. A few months, like MAY, sometimes have an alternative initialized sign (tapping the chin with a flat "M" hand), but this is not universal and can be confusing. Stick to fingerspelling for clarity. For MARCH, a "marching" gesture exists but is also not standard. Fingerspelling is the safe, default method.

Q: How do I sign "the month of May" versus just "May"?
A: You would sign MONTH (the concept) followed by the fingerspelling M-A-Y. The structure is MONTH + [MONTH NAME].

Q: What's the difference between signing "January" and "Jan"?
A: There is no difference in ASL. JANis the sign for January. You do not spell out the full "JANUARY." The abbreviation is the sign.

Q: How do I handle "September"? Is it SEP or SEPT?
A: Use SEP. While you might see "Sept." in writing, the standard ASL abbreviation is the three-letter SEP. Consistency is key.

Practice Makes Perfect: Strategies and Resources

Extra practice at the end! is not just a phrase; it's a mandate. Here’s how to integrate practice:

• Calendar Drills: Get a physical or digital calendar. Each morning, sign the date, e.g., "Today is [DAY], [MONTH] [DATE], [YEAR]."
• Sentence Building: Create simple sentences. "My birthday is JUL 4." "We have a meeting NOV 15." "I love DEC because of snow."
• Video Learning: The internet is brimming with free resources. Explore YouTube for tutorials. Search for phrases like "how to sign the months of the year in American Sign Language | ASL basics" or "learn how to sign how to sign the months of the year in ASL". Creators like Chris Gorges and Dr. Bill Vicars offer excellent, structured lessons. This video shows how to sign month and the months of the year January through December in American Sign Language (ASL)—watching multiple instructors helps you see slight variations in movement and pace.
• Over 2000 signs with videos online free! Platforms like Lifeprint (run by Dr. Bill Vicars) and Signing Savvy offer extensive video dictionaries. Be sure to check out the description area for additional tips and practice sentences from video creators.

Expert Spotlight: Dr. Bill Vicars

A monumental figure in online ASL education is Dr. Bill Vicars, a Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing (Deaf/hh) educator whose work has reached millions. His teaching philosophy emphasizes natural language acquisition and cultural context.

Detail	Information
Full Name	William G. Vicars, Ed.D.
Known For	Founder of Lifeprint (ASL University), prolific ASL educator and content creator.
Credentials	Doctorate in Education, specializing in Deaf Education and ASL linguistics.
Affiliation	California State University, Sacramento (Professor Emeritus).
Teaching Style	Conversational, example-driven, deeply rooted in Deaf culture and practical usage.
Contribution	Created one of the most comprehensive free online ASL learning resources, including detailed lessons on days of the week and months of the year. Your contribution will help more people all over (including parents of deaf children) to learn sign language—a mission central to his work.

American Sign Language (ASL) taught by Dr. Bill Vicars is considered a gold standard for self-learners. His lessons on months break down the fingerspelling, provide mnemonic devices, and integrate them into daily conversation.

Going Further: Days of the Week and Calendar Context

Mastering months in ASL naturally leads to wanting to sign days of the week. The pattern is similar: MONDAY through SUNDAY are also typically fingerspelled in abbreviation (MON, TUE, WED, THU, FRI, SAT, SUN). Learning how to sign your days of the week and months of the year in ASL together is highly effective. Practice full dates: "WED, JAN 10" or "SUN, DEC 25."

How to tell month in a calendar in sign language involves pointing to a specific month on a visual calendar (real or imagined) while signing its abbreviation. For "in the month of May," you would sign IN (point index finger into non-dominant palm) followed by MAY.

Conclusion: Your Journey to Fluency Starts with a Month

Learning how to sign 'month' in American Sign Language and its twelve specific forms is more than memorizing strings of letters. It's about unlocking the ability to discuss time, plan for the future, and connect with others over shared experiences and schedules. This guide provides essential American Sign Language vocabulary for each month, including signs for January, February, and beyond. It is perfect for beginners & intermediate learners looking to solidify their foundational calendar skills.

Remember the core principle: **months are finger.**spelled. Start with the ASL alphabet, use the JFMAMJJASOND mnemonic, leverage free videos online, and practice daily. The path to fluency is built one sign at a time. Now, you can confidently sign "My ASL class starts SEP 3" or "I'm excited for DEC". Explore the month in ASL—your calendar will never look the same again.