American Sign Language 1 Flash Cards

Student Name: Will Anderson

Add the description for each sign. You may type a description or insert a
screenshot.

Example
Word Description
Use thumb of
your
dominant hand
in
PEANUT BUTTER OR front of your
mouth
and pull it
out. Then a
spreading
motion over
your non-
dominant
hand using
your
middle and
index
fingers.
Unit 1- Iconic Signs --/56
Word Description

1.AIRPLANE

Use a small DOUBLE motion. You

move the hand forward just a
couple inches or so, then bring it
back, then move it forward again.
Make sure to angle the palm down
a bit so you aren't just signing "I
LOVE YOU."

2.BABY

The sign for "baby" is made by

placing both arms together as if
holding an infant. Then gently rock
your arms back and forth.
Tip: think of holding a baby in your
arms.
3.BANANA

Show the peeling of a banana.

4.BIRD

The sign for "bird" is made by

forming the letter "g" and placing
your hand at the right side of your
mouth. Open and close the thumb
and index finger twice.

5.BOAT

Show a boat with your hands.

Move it forward and down twice as
if showing the movement of a boat.
6.BOOK

The sign for "book" uses "flat"

hands.

7.BUTTON

Touch an "F" hand to your torso then

arching it down a few inches and
touching again. You can show either
two or three buttons, but it wouldn't be
necessary to show more than that for
this sign unless you were making a
point that the person had a "whole
bunch of buttons on their shirt."

8.CAMERA

Bend your thumb and index finger on

both hands to make the four corners of
the camera. Then click the camera by
extending and bending the index finger
on the dominant hand.
9.COLD (temperature)

The sign for "cold" means "cold

temperature." It doesn't mean "to
have a head-cold" or to be sick. Use
your arms to represent shivering.

10. 10.COLD (sick)

The sign for "a cold" as in "I am sick

with a cold," is to wipe your
imaginary runny nose downward
with an imaginary tissue, twice.

11. 11.COW

The sign for "cow" places a "Y"

handshape at the temple and twists
the hand (at the wrist) up and down
twice.

12. 12.CUP
 The sign for "cup" is made by
forming your right hand into the
letter "c." Place your right hand into
your uplifted left palm. Some people
use a very small repeated
movement. This sign can also be
used to mean "can" as in a
container of food.

13. 13.DANCE

Think of your feet gliding across the

dance floor. Shake your fingers
twice.

14. 14.DOOR

Only the dominant hand moves

during this sign. This sign uses two
movements. The dominant hand
opens then closes. It is a
combination of the signs "open-
door" and "close-door."

15. 15.DRINK

The sign for "drink" is made by

 forming your right hand into the
letter "C." Move the hand to your
mouth in a short arc.

16. 16.DOWN

The direction "down." Signing note:

"DOWN" can also mean "THIS."
Signing note: If you use a double
movement it can mean
DOWNSTAIRS.

17. 17.EARRINGS

Version 1: Pinch your earlobe once.

Version 2: Pinch your earlobe (gently)
twice.

If mentioning that someone has an

earring only pinch the lobe once. If
discussing the topic of earrings and ear
piercing and need to make distinctions
between the two concepts then I'll use a
double movement for earring and a
single, larger, emphasized movement
for "ear piercing."
Note: For plural earrings, you should
do this sign with two hands (one on
each earlobe).
18. 18.EAT

Use a squished "O" hand as if

stuffing a piece of food into your
mouth.

19. 19.ELEPHANT

The sign for "elephant" uses a flat

hand to show the trunk. Start near
your nose and then move
downward and curve outward.
20. 20.EXERCISE

The general sign for "exercise"

looks somewhat like lifting weights.

21. 21.EYES

The sign for "eyes" is easy, just

point to each eye.

22. 22.FALL

To "fall" as in "fall down" or "fell

onto the ground" you can use a "V"-
handshape to represent a person
falling.

23. 23.FLY
 Use the "I love you" handshape with
palm facing down to represent an
airplane flying through the air. Move
hand outward once to simulate
flying. This sign is a noun/verb pair.

24. 24.GLASSES

Touch a modified "C" hand (index

and thumb) to your cheek and brow
to show the rim of the glasses,
move the sign out from your face a
half-inch then move it back to your
face again.

25. 25.GUN

Hold hand like a gun and push thumb up and

down twice.

26. 26.HELLO
27. 27.HIT

Also means punch. Can be interpreted to

mean “occur”, or resulted “in”.

28. 28.HOUSE

The sign for "house" uses "flat

hands" to show the roof and walls of
a house.

29. 29.JUMP

The generic sign for jump is to use

an upside down "V" to represent
what it looks like when a person
jumps:
30. 30.ICE
CREAM

To sign "ice-cream" hold an "S"

hand in front of your mouth and
move it downward twice as if you
were licking an ice-cream cone.

31. 31.KEY

Hold an imaginary "key" between

your thumb and index finger and
twist it twice in a lock.

32. 32.ME

In general to do the sign that means

"me" or "I" you just point at yourself
or touch your index finger to your
chest.
33. 33.MY

To sign "MY" place your flat hand

on your chest. If you want it to mean
"mine" gently slap your hand to your
chest twice.

34. 34.MILK

The sign for "milk" is made by

forming a "C" and closing it twice
into an "S" hand.

35. 35.MONKEY

The sign for "monkey" is easy to do

-- just act like one. Scratch your
sides twice.
36. 36.ONION
Make a fist and place the knuckle of the
index finger by the right eye and rotate
forward twice.

37. 37.REMOTE
CONTROL
Pretend you have a remote in your dominant
hand, and press your thumb twice.

38. 38.SHOWER

To sign shower place your dominant

hand above your head and open and
close it as if producing water sprinkles.

39. 39.SMILE
Sign smile by drawing a smile on both
ends of our mouth with both index
fingers.

40. 40.SNAKE

Form your hand into a "bent V"

handshape. "Slither" your hand
forward a few inches similar to the
 way a snake slithers on the ground.

41. 41.SHIRT

Grab your shirt in the upper chest

area - in the middle or slightly to the
right - between your index finger
and thumb. Then tug outward a few
times. The sign for shirt can be
done with one hand or two. If you
do it with one hand though it might
sometimes be misunderstood to
mean "volunteer" or “apply”

42. 42.STAND

Place non-dominant hand with palm up

in a flat position and position our index
and middle finger on top of the non-
dominant palm as in two
fingers standing.

43. 43.STRONG

The sign for "strong" has a couple

of variations. A good general
version is to form fists and then pull
them out away from your body a bit
as if flexing your biceps.
44. 44.SWIM

Show a simple swimming

movement. Do it twice.

45.
45.TELEPHONE

The classic sign for TELEPHONE

uses a "Y" handshape.
46. 46.TIME

The sign for "time" in ASL points to

the wrist at the location where
people used to wear watches,
(before cell phones). Just tap your
wrist twice.

Point index fingers from both hands towards

47. 47.TORNADO each other vertically and spin them around.

48. 48.TREE
 Show a "tree" with your arm.Hold up
a "five" hand and twist it twice.

49. 49.UP

The general sign for UP (opposite of

down) just points an index finger
into the air.If you use a double
movement this sign can mean
"upstairs."

50. 50.WOOD

The sign for "wood" uses a

dominant "flat" hand to "saw" on a
log represented by a palm-down flat
base hand. Use a double
movement.
51. 51.DEAF

Touch your finger on your cheek near

your ear, then move your finger in a
small arch and touch it near the mouth.
Remember, start and end the sign on
the cheek. Do not do it on the ear or
mouth, but rather near them.

52.AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE

Form both hands into "1" hand

 shapes. Then draw a couple of
large circles in the air with the tip of
each index finger. The movement
for each hand is: up, back, down,
forward, and so on in an alternating
circular movement. As if pedaling a
bicycle backwards. Both hands
move at the same time. An L sign is
made with each hand facing
downward and moving out from the
body.

53. 53.ASL

54. 54.SIGN

Form both hands into "1" hand

shapes. Then draw a couple of
 large circles in the air with the tip of
each index finger. The movement
for each hand is: up, back, down,
forward, and so on in an alternating
circular movement. As if pedaling a
bicycle backwards. Both hands
move at the same time. When the
right hand is up, the left hand is
down. When the right hand is
forward, the left hand is back.

55. 55.HARD OF
HEARING

Make an "H" handshape and drop it

a few inches, have it bounce up and
over to the right and back down
again in a small arc. Sort of like
drawing a lowercase "n" in the air
with an "H" handshape.
56. 56.HEARING

The movement is a small rotation.

Up, forward, down, and back.
Repeat twice. Think of words
tumbling forth from the mouth.

Unit 2 Alphabet and Numbers --/48

Sign Description

1. 1.ASL Manual
Alphabet
2. 2.1

Palm facing inward

3. 3.2

Palm facing inward

4. 4.3

Palm facing inward

5. 5.4

Palm facing inward

6. 6.5

Palm facing inward

7. 7.6

8. 8.7

9. 9.8
10. 10.9

11. 11.10

Tilt hand side to side.

12. 12.11

Do this twice.
13. 13.12

Do this twice

14. 14.13

Do this twice

15. 15.14
 Do this twice.

16. 16.15

Do this twice

17. 17.16

Palm outward, rub pinky on outside of

thumb.

18. 18.17

Palm outward, rub ring finger on outside of

thumb.
19. 19.18

Palm outward, rub middle finger on outside

of thumb.

20. 20.19

Palm outward, rub index finger on outside of

thumb.

21. 21.20

Pinch fingers like a bird (twice).

22. 22.21

Move thumb like a gun (twice).

23. 23.22

Do this twice moving from side to side.

24. 24.23

25. 25.24

26. 26.25
 The five is made with palm facing outward,
not inward.

27. 27.26

28. 28.27
29. 29.28

30. 30.29

31. 31.30
32. 32.40

33. 33.50

34. 34.60
35. 35.70

36. 36.80

37. 37.90
38. 38.100

39. 39.200

40. 40.300
41. 41.400

42. 42.500

43. 43.600

44. 44.700
45. 45.800

46. 46.900

47. 47.1,000
48. 48.1,000,000

When you want to indicate that

there are thousands or millions of
something you can use the last part
of the "MILLION" sign without a
specific number sign. Use an
intense facial expression to help
convey the concept of "lots of."

Unit 3 – Animals, Colors, Vocabulary

--/44
1. 1.ANIMAL
 The fingertips touch the chest. The
fingers stay straight. The hands
pivot inward toward each other
twice.

2. 2.BEAR

The sign for "bear" is done by

crossing your arms over your chest
and clawing your chest twice. The
sign ends with the fingers in the claw
shape.

3. 3.BEE
 Show the concept of being stung on
the cheek then swatting the bee
away.

4. 4.BIRD

The sign for "bird" is made by

forming the letter "g" and placing
your hand at the right side of your
mouth. Open and close the thumb
and index finger twice.
5.
5.BUG/INSECT

The sign for "bug" is made by

forming the number "3" and
touching your nose with the tip of
your thumb. Bend your index and
middle fingers twice.

6.
6.BULL/BISON

7.
7.BUTTERFLY

The sign for "butterfly" crosses two

flat hands in front of you at the
wrists, palms facing backwards.
8. 8.CAT

The general version of the sign for

cat starts with an "open F." This
handshape looks like a normal "F"
except that the index finger and
thumb are separated by about an
inch. Place the "open F"
handshape near the bottom of your
nose and move it out to the side
while changing it to a normal "F"
handshape

9. 9.CHICKEN

In context, the sign for "chicken"

uses the same sign as "BIRD."
10. 10.COW

11. 11.DEER

The sign for "deer" shows the

antlers. Touch the thumb-tips of
your open 5-hands the top of your
head.

12. 12.DOG
 To sign DOG, just snap your fingers
twice.

13. 13.HORSE

The sign for "horse" is made by

forming the letter "u" (or "h") with
your right hand. Place your thumb
on your right temple, or a little
higher. Bend and unbend your first
two fingers a couple times.

14.
14.KANGAROO

15. 15.LION
 The sign for "lion" uses a slightly-
curved-5-hand to show the "mane"
of a lion.
Start at your forehead and pull the
hand backward over your head.

16. 16.MONKEY

17. 17.MOOSE

18. 18.MOUSE
19. 19.OWL

To do the sign for "owl," hold "O"

hands in front of your eyes. Twist
your hands inward. Repeat.

20. 20.PIG

The sign for "pig" is made by

placing a flat hand under your chin,
palm down. With your fingers
pointing to the left, (if you are right
handed) bend and unbend your
hand several times from the
knuckles.
21.
21.RABBIT/BUNN
Y

The sign for "rabbit" shows two ears

flopping.Use "U" handshapes and
bend at the large knuckles twice.

22. 22.RAT

To do the sign for "rat," brush your

nose twice with an "R" hand.
23.
23.SHEEP/LAMB

The sign for "sheep" is made by

forming the letter "v" with your right
hand (if you are righ t handed). Your
left forearm is extended with your
hand either closed or open, palm
downward. Bring the right hand
down onto the top of the left
forearm, clip a bit of hair (as if your
index and middle fingers were
scissors).

24. 24.BLACK

The sign for "black" uses a straight

index finger and moves the tip
across the forehead.
25. 25.BLUE

The sign for "blue" is made by

forming the letter "b" with your right
hand. Twist/shake your hand from
the elbow (the wrist doesn't bend on
this sign).

26. 26.BROWN

The sign for "brown" is made by

forming the letter "b" with your right
 hand. Move your right hand down
the side of your right cheek. Your
index finger should be close to your
face.

27. 27.CLEAR

28. 28.COLOR

To do the sign for "color" hold your

hand up in front of your neck and
chin area then flutter the fingertips.

29. 29.DARK
30.
30.FAVORITE

Use a light jabbing movement.

31. 31.GOLD

To do the sign for "gold" point your

index finger at your ear lobe and
then move your hand away from
your ear as you change the
handshape into the letter "y." End
with a very small shake.

32. 32.GRAY

Use a steady, deliberate movement,

do this twice.
33. 33.GREEN

The sign for "green" shakes a "G"

handshape.

34. 34.ORANGE

The sign for "orange," both the fruit

and the color, is made by forming
the letter "c" and then "s." You
"squeeze" your hand in front of your
mouth twice.

35. 35.PINK

P handshape and stroke lips with middle

finger.
36. 36.PURPLE

To do the sign for "purple," shake a

"P" twice.

37. 37.RAINBOW

38. 38.RED

The sign for "red" is made by

making a movement that looks like
you are stroking your lips (one time)
with the tip of your index finger.

39. 39.SILVER

Make the sign for "silver" by

pointing your index finger at your
 earlobe. As you move your hand
away from your ear, form the letter
"s." End with a very small shake.

40. 40.TAN

Do the t handshape down your cheek.

41. 41.WHITE

The sign for "white" (as in the color

white) starts as a flat hand with the
thumb extended. As you pull the
hand away from your chest, change
the shape so that your thumb is
touching the fingers.
42. 42.YELLOW

The sign for "yellow" is made by

forming the letter "Y." Twist your
hand a couple times (the movement
is in the wrist)

43. 43.LEFT
44. 44.RIGHT

Units 1-3 --/148 Points

Unit 4 Food and School Vocabulary --/106

Word Description

1. 1.LUNCH
2. 2.DINNER

This form can either use a small

rotational movement (like slurping
soup from a bowl close to your
mouth), or a "stuffing your mouth with
food" movement that taps the lips with
the fingertips of the thumb, middle,
ring, and pinkie fingers.

3. 3.BREAKFAST
 A popular sign for "breakfast" is a
combination of "EAT and MORNING."

4. 4.HUNGRY

The sign for "hungry" is also the same

as the sign for "wish." Some people
start the sign for "wish" on the upper
chest and prefer to start "hungry" from
a slightly lower position. Think of a
"wish" coming from your heart, and
hunger coming from your belly.

5. 5.BOTTLE

Same as cup.
6. 6.BOWL

The sign for "bowl" uses slightly

curved hands to show the shape of a
bowl.

7. 7.CUP

8. 8.DISH

Some people move their index fingers

 and thumbs around the outer edge of
an imaginary dish.

9. 9.FORK

Make the sign for "fork" by forming your

right hand into the letter "v."

10. 10.KNIFE

In the sign for "KNIFE" the right index

finger starts with the palm facing
backward and moves down and
contacts the second knuckle of the left
index finger then makes a small
backward slicing movement as it
continues its downward path.

11. 11.NAPKIN
12. 12.APPLE

The sign for "apple" is made by

closing your hand and placing the
knuckle of your right index finger
against your cheek. At the same time,
pivot the hand back and forth.

13. 13.BACON

14. 14.BANANA

Show the peeling of a banana.

15. 15.BEANS

Move index finger of dominant hand

incrementally up nondominant hand in a
 tapping motion.

16. 16.BERRY

17. 17.BREAD

Pretend your left hand is a loaf of

bread. Use the right-hand fingertips to
slice the loaf a couple times.
18. 18.BUTTER

Pull the fingertips of your index and

middle fingers across the palm of your
non-dominant hand. Use a double
movement.

19.
19.CABBAGE/LET
TUCE
Tap side of head with palm and rotate back and
forth.

20. 20.CANDY

To do the sign for "candy" twist the tip of

your index finger on your cheek.

21. 21.CARROT

22. 22.CHEESE
23. 23.CHEWING
GUM

24.
24.CHOCOLATE

Circle “C” handshape with dominant hand

around downward facing non-dominant hand.

25. 25.COCONUT

Shake imaginary coconut beside head.

26. 26.COOKIE

The right (or dominant) hand is in

a loose "C" handshape. You bring the
right hand down onto the left hand,
then you lift up the right hand rotate it
 and bring it down again on the left
hand. Twist your right hand as if
cutting out cookies from cookie
dough.

27. 27.CORN

A very common way to sign "corn" is to

use your index finger to represent an "ear
of corn." Hold it near your mouth and twist
it forward twice.

28. 28.DRINK

29. 29.EGG

The sign for "egg" is made by forming

 both hands into the letter "h." In one
smooth movement, bring the middle
finger side of your dominant "h"
hand down on top of the index finger
side of your non-dominant "h" hand.
Move both hands down and out as if
breaking apart an "egg."

30. 30.FOOD/EAT

31. 31.FRENCH
FRIES

Move “F” handshape outwards and to the side

twice.

32. 32.FRUIT

To sign "fruit" touch the tips of the

 index finger and thumb of an "F"-hand
to your cheek. Twist the "F"-hand on
your cheek twice. Maintain contact for
the whole sign. (The hand doesn't leave
your cheek, nor does it move forward on
the cheek.)

33. 33.GRAPES

The sign for grapes is like outlining a

series of grapes in a bunch. You make
your dominant hand into a claw shape and
your passive hand held horizontally. Now
start with your claw at your wrist and then
make little bunny hops along your hand,
like you are moving your hand over
those grapes.

34. 34.GRAVY

The dominant hand moves downward.

The index and thumb come together.

35.
35.HAMBURGER

The sign for "hamburger" is made by

cupping your right hand on top of your
 left hand. Now reverse the position of
both hands.

36. 36.HOTDOG

Squeeze hands as if forming the shape of a

hotdog.

37. 37.ICE CREAM

38. 38.JELLY

Shake open downward “5” dominant hand over

 non-dominant hand, palm down.

39. 39.JUICE

With hand facing towards your body, sign a “J”

and move hand outward to the right.

40. 40.MEAT

41. 41.LEMON

The movement is in the WRIST not in

the knuckle.
42. 42.MILK

The sign for "milk" is made by forming

a "C" and closing it twice into an "S"
hand.

43. 43.PANCAKE

This sign is looks like you are flipping

a pancake.

44. 44.PEACH
 Touch the tips of the fingers to your
cheek and then draw the tips of the
fingers together on the cheek and
move the hand and fingertips a very
small bit away from the cheek, and
then repeat the movement.

45. 45.PEANUT
BUTTER

46. 46.PEAR

For the sign "pear," you hold the non-

 dominant hand in a flattened "O"-
handshape.
You place the fingers and thumb of the
dominant hand around the non-dominant
hand and then slide the dominant hand off
to the side.

47. 47.PEPPER

Use an "f" handshape and a quick

double motion.

48. 48.PIE

To sign "pie" show the slicing of a pie.

Make two slices in an imaginary pie
 on the palm of your non-dominant
hand. The cuts should form a wedge of
pie.

49. 49.PIZZA

50. 50.POPCORN

51. 51.PUMPKIN

Do this twice.
 There isn’t a widespread ASL sign for rice. Dr.
52. 52.RICE Bill Vicars from Lifeprint.com has seen
people cup their non-dominant hand
like a bowl and then "eat" out of it
with an "R" handshape.

53. 53.SALAD

Picture yourself tossing a salad.

54. 54.SALT

Flutter the dominant "V" hand fingers. The

two fingers stay in a "V" shape and the
movement is in the wrist not the knuckles.

55. 55.SANDWICH
56. 56.SAUSAGE

Same as the sign for “hotdog”. Squeezing

motion once in front of your body and again as
hands move to the sides.

57. 57.SODA

Form the left hand into an "O." Bend the

middle finger of the right "spread" hand at
the large knuckle and stick it (the middle
finger) into the left "O." Then remove the
finger and slap your right palm over the
hole.
58. 58.SOUP

Use a double motion and hold your

hands up near your mouth. The
dominant hand represents a spoon.
The non-dominant represents a
bowl.

59. 59.SPAGHETTI

Wiggle pinky fingers as you move your hands

to the sides of your body.

60.
60.STRAWBERRY

Same as the sign for “berry”.

61. 61.SUGAR

62. 62.SYRUP

Thumb down and circle around as if pouring

syrup on pancakes.

63. 63.TEA

To sign "tea," use an "F" handshape

on your dominant hand and a "C" (or
an "O") handshape on your non-
dominant hand. Circle the “F” as if you
are stirring with a spoon.
64. 64.TOAST

Pretend you are cooking toast over a

fire by sticking a fork into a piece of
bread to hold it up to the fire then
when that side is done, you stick the
fork into the other side.Your right hand
is a "V" handshape throughout this
whole sign. The left hand is a "flat-
hand."

Fingerspell the word “VANILLA” or circle a

65. 65.VANILLA “V” handshape with dominant hand around a

downward fist.

66.
66.VEGETABLES

Stick the tip of the index finger of a "V"

handshape on my cheek and twist my
hand twice. The "V" pivots on the tip
 of the index finger. The middle finger
isn't touching the face.

67. 67.WATER

The sign for "water" is made by

forming your right hand into the letter
"W." Touch the index finger to your
mouth twice.

68. 68.COFFEE

Think of the movement of an old coffee

grinder. The bottom hand stays still while
the top hand turns the crank.

69. 69.CREAM

Same as the sign for “ice cream”.

70. 70.DESSERT

Both hands in a “D” handshape. Come together

and touch fingers twice.

71. 71.CRACKER

Knock elbow twice.

72. 72.SPOON

73. 73.CEREAL

While moving your hand to the left

corner of your mouth, change the
handshape into an "x." Alternate
between the straight index finger and
the letter "x" a couple of times.
Remember, the movement is
from right to left (if you are right
handed).
74. 74.BACKPACK

Move fists up to shoulders as if putting on a

backpack.

75. 75.BOOK

76. 76.CLASS

77.
77.DESK/TABLE
78.
78.HOMEWORK

For the sign "HOMEWORK" you just

touch the cheek just once and whack
your non-dominant hand just once.

79. 79.LEARN

80. 80.PAPER

The sign for "paper" uses a repeated

backward movement of the dominant hand.
If you are right handed, strike the left palm
 with the right palm twice. The right hand
moves. The left hand doesn't.

81. 81.PENCIL

82. 82.RECESS

83. 83.SCHOOL

The sign for "school" uses loose flat

hands. You lower your dominant hand
onto your base hand twice as if
clapping.

84. 84.STUDENT
(LEARN+PERSON)
85. 85.TEACH

The sign starts near your head and

moves out. Imagine taking
information from your head and
putting it into someone else's head.

86. 86.TEACHER
(TEACH+PERSON)
87. 87.TEST

88.
88.PRESCHOOL

Cup dominant hand and move upward. Then

flip hand and clap for the word “school”
89.
89.KINDERGARTEN

Shake “K” under non-dominant hand.

90.
90.ELEMENTARY

Circle a dominant-hand, palm-down "E"

handshape below a flat hand.

91. 91.MIDDLE
SCHOOL
 Fingerspell HS
92. 92.HIGH
SCHOOL

93. 93.FRESHMAN

Double movement. Dominant flat

hand taps the ring finger of non-
dominant five hand.The non-dominant
hand doesn't move in this sign. Just
the dominant hand.

94.
94.SOPHOMORE

Double movement. Dominant flat

hand taps the middle finger of non-
dominant five hand.The non-dominant
 hand doesn't move in this sign. Just
the dominant hand.

95. 95.JUNIOR

Double movement. Dominant flat hand (or

relaxed 5 hand) taps the index finger of
your stationary non-dominant "5"-hand.

96. 96.SENIOR

Double movement. Dominant flat

hand (or relaxed 5 hand) taps tip of
thumb of stationary non-dominant "5"-
hand.

97. 97.ART

Move pinky in a circular motion as if drawing

on paper.
98. 98.GYM/PE

The general sign for GYM looks like a

cross between lifting weights an
jumping rope. Modified “Q”
handshape. The position of the hands
are up near the shoulders.

99. 99.LIBRARY

100.
100.STUDY

Hold your non-dominant hand out in

front of you as if it were a book or
piece of paper. Aim the fingers of
your dominant hand at the "book" and
wiggle your fingers.

101.
101.SUBJECT
 As in a “Lesson” – move dominant hand down
non-dominant hand that is facing you.

As in “a topic” – place both hands as if quoting

something.

102.
102.ENGLISH

103.
103.HISTORY
 Shake “H” hand up and down twice.

104. 104.MATH

“M” handshape with hands crossing in front of

you wice.

105.
105.READING

“V” handshape. Do this twice.

106.
106.SCIENCE

Think of a person pouring chemicals.

Unit 5 Time, Calendar, Season Vocabulary --/45

Word Description

1. 1.MORNING

The sign for "morning" uses a palm-

up flat hand (or slightly bent hand) on
the dominant hand to represent the
sun rising up from beneath the
horizon.
2. NOON/MIDDAY

Think of the dominant hand as the

"sun" and the non-dominant arm as
the horizon.

3. 3.AFTERNOON

To do the sign for "afternoon" just hold

your dominant flat hand at a "2 o'clock"
position pointing ahead and somewhat
up.

4. NIGHT/EVENING

The sign for "night" is made by

holding your non-dominant arm
horizontally, palm down, pointing to
the side.

5. 5.MIDNIGHT
 Sign the number "12" upside-down in
the "night" position.

6. 6.TIME

7. 7.CLOCK (HOUR+TIME)

Circle a “one” handshape (hour sign) around

palm of non-dominant hand. Then point to
wrist in the “time” sign.
8. 8.WATCH

9. 9.HOUR

10. 10.MINUTE

Rotate “one” handshape forward a bit at the

wrist.
11. 11.SECOND

Rotate “one” handshape just barely

slightly forward at the wrist.

12. 12.NOW

13. 13.TODAY
(NOW+DAY)
14.

14.TOMORROW

Move hand forward to indicate tomorrow,

which happens in the future.

15. 15.YESTERDAY

First tap chin, then toward the ear. It

happened in the past.

16. Where are “NOW” signs signed In ASL, where your body is positioned is
where yhou sign all of the “NOW” signs.
in relation to the body?

17. Where are “FUTURE” signs Signs in front of your body indicate the
future. The longer the length of time in
the
signed in relation to the body? future, the longer you’ll extend your arm
in
front of you.
18. Where are “PAST” signs signed Signs behind your body indicated the past.
The longer the length of time in the past, the
in relation to the body? longer you’ll extend your arm behind you.

19. 19.DAY

20. 20.SUNDAY

Push palms forward twice.

21. 21.MONDAY

Circle “M” hand shape in a forward motion

in
front of you.

22. 22.TUESDAY

Circle “T” hand shape in a forward motion

in
front of you.
23.

23.WEDNESDAY

Circle “W” hand shape in a forward motion in

front of you.

24. 24.THURSDAY

Circle “H” hand shape in a forward motion in

front of you.

25. 25.FRIDAY

Circle “F” hand shape in a forward motion in

front of you.

26. 26.SATURDAY

Circle “S” hand shape in a forward motion in

front of you.
27. 27.YEAR

The sign for "year" is made by

forming both hands into the letter
"S." If you are right handed, rotate
your right hand completely around
the left. The right hand should come
to rest on top of the left.

28. 28.SINGLE

Move side to side.

29. 29.MONTH
30. 30.WEEKEND

Use a modified version of week by

sliding my index finger across the top
of my flat hand. Then I change the
index finger into a flat hand and sign
"END."
31. 31.LAST YEAR

Start hand in a fist and point behind you to

indicate happening in the past.

32. 32.NEXT YEAR

Circle hand around in front of you and to the

left as you are pointing.

33. 33.LATE/NOT-
YET
 The sign "not-yet" uses a small
negative headshake and covers the
lower teeth with the tongue. Yes you
have to use your tongue in this sign
or you are doing it wrong. That is
another reason why it is not possible
to speak and sign ASL at the same
time.

34. 34.WEEK

The sign for "week" has a couple of

variations. The basic sign for "week" is
made by forming your dominant hand into
an index-finger handshape and moving
your hand forward over the palm of your
non-dominant hand.

35. 35.SEASON

Form fist with dominant hand and circle

forward and around other opened flat hand.
36. 36.WEATHER

The main version uses "W" hands

and moves them both downward
using a wavy downward movement

37. 37.SPRING
 The sign for "spring" is based on the
sign for "GROW." If you use a single
motion it means "grow." If you use a
double motion it means "spring" (or
"garden" or "a plant").

38. 38.SUMMER

The sign for "summer" changes from

a "1" hand into an "x" hand as you
pull the hand across your forehead.
Think of "wiping the sweat from your
brow."

39.

39.AUTUMN/FALL
 The sign for "autumn" is based on
the idea of "leaves falling from a
tree."Your non-dominant hand
represents the tree (not an upright
tree, but more of a tired old leaning
tree). Your right hand represents
leaves "falling from the tree." Use a
double motion. Remember do the
movement with your dominant hand.

40. 40.WINTER

-OR-

Many people just sign "cold" when

they mean "winter." That is okay as
long as you can figure out the
meaning from the context of the
 sentence. If there is any ambiguity (if it
isn't clear) as to the meaning, then you
can use an initialized sign that uses "W"
handshapes on the sign "cold."

41. 41.COOL

The sign for "cool" as in the

temperature, waves your hands
backwards towards your face a
couple times as if they were "fans"
and you were cooling yourself.
42. 42.HOT

Use a "claw" handshape. Move it

outward and downward from your
mouth. Do it quickly. The stronger
and faster the movement, the hotter
the temperature.

43. 43.WARM

The sign for "warm" starts in the

same handshape as the sign for
FOOD. It is a "modified O" hand.
Think of your warm breath rising
upward in the wintertime.
44. 44.COLD
(temperature)

Use a tissue motion to wipe your nose twice.

45. 45.COLD (sick)

Unit 6 People Vocabulary --/42

Word Description
 1. AUNT

The sign for "aunt" is made by first

shaping your hand to form the letter
"A." Hold your hand close to your
cheek. Twist your hand a couple of
times.

2. BABY

3. BOY

Move thumb and other fingers together

4. BOYFRIEND
 Combination of BOY and FRIEND

5. BROTHER

This sign starts with either a modified

"L" hand or "G" hand on the
dominant hand and an "index finger"
on the non-dominant hand. Then the
dominant hand moves downward
while changing into an "index" finger
handshape at the end of the sign.

6. CHILD

Two pats as if on one head. Can do with one

hand as well.
7. CHILDREN

Pat several times as if on different heads. Can

use one hand as well.

8.COUSIN (female)

Shake a “C” by the side of your chin.

9. COUSIN (male)

Shake a “C” by the side of your head up high.

10. DAUGHTER

This sign is a combination of GIRL

and BABY, but don’t rock your arms.

11. DIVORCE

The sign for "divorce" is made by first

forming the letter "d" with both
hands. Hold both hands together
with the palms facing each other.
With a twisting motion, move both
hands outward and sideways so both
palms face forward.
12.

12.ENGAGEMEN
T

Circle “E” hand shape over nondominant hand

and end on top of ring finger.

13. FAMILY

To sign "family" form "F" hands and

use the hands to trace the shape of a
circle. As if representing a family
sitting around a dinner table.
14. FATHER/DAD

15. FRIEND

The sign for "friend" interlocks the

index fingers twice.

16. GIRL

Place the tip of your thumb on your

cheek. Slide the tip of the thumb
forward and down along the cheek.
17. GIRLFRIEND

Combination of GIRL and FRIEND

18.
GRANDFATHER

The sign for "grandfather" is made by

touching your forehead with the
thumb of your dominant hand, as
when signing "father." The dominant
hand should be open. Move your
hand forward in two small arches.
19.
GRANDMOTHER

The sign for "grandmother" is made

by touching your chin with the thumb
of your dominant hand, as when
signing "mother." The dominant
hand should be open. Move your
hand forward in two small arches.

20. GROUP

Both hands being in a “G” hand shape facing

one another. Move wrists around and end with
fingers facing you.
21. HUSBAND

22. KID

Index finger and pinky

should be outward, with index finger
underneath the nose against upper lip. Curl
middle, ring finger, and thumb inward and
flutter pinky while keeping the index finger in
place against upper lip.

The first part of this sign is similar to

23. MAN the sign "father" and then moves
down to touch the chest.
24.
MARRIAGE/MARRY

The sign for "marriage" is made by

clasping both hands comfortably
together. For right-handed people the
right hand should be on top of the left
hand.

In general to do the sign that means

25. ME "me" or "I" you just point at yourself
or touch your index finger to your
chest.
26. MY

27. MOTHER

28. NEPHEW

“N” hand shape, twisting at wrist several

times.

29. NIECE

The sign for niece is an "N" hand

held to the side of the face near the
cheek.The hand twists forward twice.
30. PARENTS

First touch chin and then head.

31. PEOPLE

Use forward alternating rotational

movement (as if pedaling a bicycle
forward).

32. PERSON
 There is a sign that many people
simply call "the person sign." By that
they mean, "the sign that you add to
something when you want it to be a
person." It is also called the "person
affix" or sometimes the "agent affix."

33. SISTER

34. SON
 Combination of BOY and BABY, but don’t
rock arms. The male part looks like a salute.

35. UNCLE

To do the sign for "uncle" hold a "U"

hand to the side of your head. Twist
it twice. The sign Uncle is done
higher up than the sign "Aunt."

36. 36.WEDDING

Bring both hands together in a sweeping

outward motion.
37. 37.WIFE

38. 38.WOMAN

Touch the thumb-tip of your

 dominant "5"-hand to your chin and
then bring it down to your chest.

39. 39.YOU

40. 40.YOUR

41. How do you sign Males signs are on the upper half of the
face.
MALE signs?
42. How do you sign Female signs are on the lower half of
the face.
FEMALE signs?

Unit 7 Activities, Hobbies, Sports, Vocabulary

--/31
SIGN Description

1. 1.ACTIVITY
Move hands side to side.
2. 2.ART

The sign for "draw" uses the tip of the

pinkie as a pencil or a small paint
brush

3. 3.BALL

The "right" sign for "ball" depends on

what kind of ball you are talking
about.
The generic sign for BALL can (in
context" be interpreted as meaning
"softball." The concept of BALL is
often just spelled B-A-L-L.
4. 4.BASEBALL

To sign "baseball" just pretend you

are holding a bat and take a couple of
mini-swings.

5. 5.BASKETBALL

The sign for "basketball" is done with

curved-3-hands. Some people do the
"basketball" sign with "5"
handshapes. But the "3" handshape
version is more popular amongst
native Deaf adults.Make two quick
throwing movements.

Show the movement of the pedals on

6. 6.BICYCLE a bike:
7. 7.BOOK

8. 8.BOWLING

The noun version of the sign is palm

down, with a small double movement.

9. 9.CANOEING

As if you are rowing a canoe from side to side.

10. 10.CARDS

Pretend you are dealing cards out on a table.

11. 11.EXERCISE

The general sign for "exercise" looks

somewhat like lifting weights.

12. 12.FOOTBALL

The sign for "football" holds the

fingers up as if representing two
opposing scrimmage lines ramming
together at the hut. Use a double
movement. (Ram twice.)

13. 13.FUN
 Uses a quick motion with index finger
and middle finger by nose and ending
down against the index finger and
middle finger of other hand. There is a
difference between fun and funny.
Fun uses a quick single motion and
two hands. Funny uses one hand and
a double motion.

14. 14.GAME

With thumbs up or using “A” hands,

knock fists together two times.

15. 15.INTERNET

Your hands move forward and back.

The tips of the middle finger brush
together as they pass.
16. 16.LOSE

Depends on the meaning of “LOSE”.

For the opposite of “found”: Double
motion, starting with the sign for “more”
and changing to open hands, As if you
were holding something between your
hands and it slipped out.

As in “losing a game”:

17. 17.MAGAZINE

“G” hand shape grabbing the side of

your hand next to your pinky and
 moving downward.

18. 18.MOVIE

Use a side to side twisting movement

of the dominant hand held against the
non-dominant hand as a base.

19.

19.NEWSPAPER

The sign for newspaper is a

noun/verb pair with the sign for
PRINT.If you mean the noun
"newspaper" then do a double
movement.If you mean the verb
"print" then do a single movement.

20. 20.PARTY
 Do a twisting movement using "Y"
handsNote: This is the same sign as
"PLAY." You can also do a twisting “P”
Some people use a side to side swing
with either “P” or “Y”

21. 21.RACE

You alternate tilting or moving "A"

handshapes forward and back so that
one is farther "ahead" than the other.
The sign can mean RACE or
COMPETE. Some people use this
sign for "SPORTS." Some people
prefer to spell out "S-P-O-R-T-S."

22. 22.RADIO

Make a twisting movement with hand

by ear.
23. 23.READ

The sign for "read" uses the tips of

your index and middle fingers as if
they were eyeballs. The non-dominant
flat hand functions as the "page" from
which you are reading.

24.

24.ROLLERSKATE

Use "flat hands" to represent the

forward and back movement of your
feet and the wheels. Hold your hands
out in front of you with the tips of your
fingers pointing forward. I start with
my dominant hand forward, then I pull
(glide?) my dominant hand back at
the same time as I glide my non-
dominant hand forward. Then I pull
my non-dominant hand back as I
move my dominant hand forward and
that's it. Basically a "one" "two"
movement. This is the same
movement that is used for signs like
"skating" or "ice-skating."
25. 25.SOCCER

Two b shape hands strike each other

twice. The index-finger side of the
right hand strikes the pinkie-side of
left hand at the middle of the hand.
Think of the left hand as the ball and
the right hand as your foot. You can
also form a fist with your non-
dominant hand (to be the ball).

26. 26.SWIM

Show a simple swimming movement.

Do it twice.

27. 27.TEAM
 “T” handshape with both hands, rotate
hands around to end up facing you.

28. 28.TENNIS

29.

29.TV/TELEVISON

Fingerspell TV

30. 30.VIDEO
GAME

31. 31.WIN
Units 4-7 --/ 224 points