Lesson 1: Vocabulary Flashcards
AND
The sign AND is not used as frequently in ASL as the spoken word is in English.
ANGRY
The sign for “angry” is made by forming “claw” hands and placing your fingertips against your stomach. Pull both hands forcefully up and outward.
Memory hint: Picture being so mad that you could rip your guts out.
FURIOUS
The sign for “furious” is made by forming “claw” hands and placing your fingertips against your stomach. Pull both hands forcefully up and outward.
Memory hint: Picture being so mad you could rip your guts out.
BEAUTIFUL
The sign “BEAUTIFUL” can open up at the end of the sign of one of the versions of this sign.
Memory aid: Sort of like a flower blooming.
BIG
In this sign, the “L” hand index fingers are bent. That is a generic sign for “largeness” or the state of being big.
LARGE
In this sign the “L” hand index fingers are bent. That is a generic sign for “largeness” or the state of being big. If you use “normal” “L” hands then the sign becomes an initialized sign for “LARGE”.
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 off.
BREEZE
The sign for “breeze” waves your hands backwards towards your face a couple times.
Memory aid: Think of your hands as fans making a cool breeze to keep you cooled down.
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.
Hint: I usually slide my index finger instead of doing the arc when performing this sign…it is much easier that way (in my opinion).
DEAF
(Old version, not recommended)
This sign combines the signs for EAR and CLOSED.
DUMB
(Version 1)
Whack your forehead with the “palm side” of an “A” handshape.
STUPID
(Version 1)
Whack your forehead with the “palm side” of an “A” handshape.
HAPPY
The sign for “happy” is made by placing one or both of your hands in front of you.
Use “flat” hands, palms pointing back. Circle your hands forward, down, back, up, forward, down, back, up. Both hands move at the same time and in the same direction. On the upward swing the hands are very close to your chest or touch your chest. On the downward swing your hands are further away from your chest.
HARD-OF-HEARING
(Abbreviation: HOH or HH)
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.
HE
In ASL to indicate HE, SHE, or IT, you just point at the person or thing to which you are referring.
If the person has exited the area, then you point to where the person was recently.
If the person hasn’t been in the area then you pick a vacant spot off to the right (if you are right handed, or off to the left if you are left handed) and point into the air in that direction. Then each time you point in that direction for the duration of that conversation it will refer to “HE / HIM or SHE / HER”
SHE
In ASL to indicate HE, SHE, or IT, you just point at the person or thing to which you are referring.
If the person has exited the area, then you point to where the person was recently.
If the person hasn’t been in the area then you pick a vacant spot off to the right (if you are right handed, or off to the left if you are left handed) and point into the air in that direction. Then each time you point in that direction for the duration of that conversation it will refer to “HE / HIM or SHE / HER”
IT
In ASL to indicate HE, SHE, or IT, you just point at the person or thing to which you are referring.
If the person has exited the area, then you point to where the person was recently.
If the person hasn’t been in the area then you pick a vacant spot off to the right (if you are right handed, or off to the left if you are left handed) and point into the air in that direction. Then each time you point in that direction for the duration of that conversation it will refer to “HE / HIM or SHE / HER”
HIM
In ASL to indicate HE, SHE, or IT, you just point at the person or thing to which you are referring.
If the person has exited the area, then you point to where the person was recently.
If the person hasn’t been in the area then you pick a vacant spot off to the right (if you are right handed, or off to the left if you are left handed) and point into the air in that direction. Then each time you point in that direction for the duration of that conversation it will refer to “HE / HIM or SHE / HER”
HER
In ASL to indicate HE, SHE, or IT, you just point at the person or thing to which you are referring.
If the person has exited the area, then you point to where the person was recently.
If the person hasn’t been in the area then you pick a vacant spot off to the right (if you are right handed, or off to the left if you are left handed) and point into the air in that direction. Then each time you point in that direction for the duration of that conversation it will refer to “HE / HIM or SHE / HER”
HEARING
(Culturally)
The handshape is an index finger and the movement is a small rotation. Up, forward, down, and back. Repeat twice.
Memory aid: Since Hearing people tend to “speak,” Deaf people refer to “Hearing people” by using this sign that looks like words tumbling from the mouth.
SAY
The movement is a small rotation. Up, forward, down, and back. Repeat twice. Think of words tumbling forth from the mouth.
HEAVY
Hold your hands out as if holding up something heavy. The motion is a down movement. The hands drop down about 5 inches.
Memory aid: Think of a heavy item almost dropping out of your hands, but you end up catching it before it does.
HELLO
Use a “B” handshape and make a movement like that of a salute.
HI
Use a “B” handshape and make a movement like that of a salute.
I
Just point to yourself using an index finger.
ME
Just point to yourself using an index finger shape.
INTERESTING
(Version 1)
The sign for “INTERESTING” also can mean interested or interest (not involving money). “INTERESTING” is basically a two-handed version of “like.” The hands change from loose “five” handshapes into “eight” handshapes.
INTEREST
(Version 1)
The sign for “INTERESTING” also can mean interested or interest (not involving money). “INTERESTING” is basically a two-handed version of “like.” The hands change from loose “five” handshapes into “eight” handshapes.
INTERESTING
(Version 2)
Take a bent “L” handshape near your nose and chest area and pull it outwards an inch or two to form a closed modified version of an “X” handshape.
INTEREST
(Version 2)
Take a bent “L” handshape near your nose and chest area and pull it out an inch or two to form a closed modified “X” handshape.
LIGHT (weight)
Take two sensitive finger hands, palm down, and bring them upwards while flipping them palm up.
MAD
Put an open 5 hand in front of your face and turn it into a claw hand. Alternate this about two times.
PRETTY
The handshape is a “relaxed five” that turns into the handshape you get at the end of doing the “AND” sign.
SAD
The sign for “sad” is made by placing both hands in front of your face, palms in. Bring both of your hands down the length of your face. Tilt your head forward slightly, and make a sad face.
SHORT (height)
The right hand is slightly bent at the large knuckles and placed at about chest level.
SLEEPY
Take an relaxed open 5 hand (like in the sign “AND”) and bring it down into a closed handshape a few times.
DROWSY
Take an “AND” shaped hand and bring it down a few time to a closed handshape.
SMALL
To sign “small” or “little,” hold your hands in front of you, palms facing, and then bring them together using a relatively quick movement.
LITTLE
To sign “small” or “little,” hold your hands in front of you, palms facing, and then bring them together using a relatively quick movement.
SMART
Take a sensitive handshape and place the sensitive finger on the side of the forehead and flick it outwards, palm forward.
CLEVER
Take a sensitive handshape and place the sensitive finger on the side of the forehead and flick it outwards, palm forward.
BRIGHT
Take a sensitive handshape and place the sensitive finger on the side of the forehead and flick it outwards, palm forward.
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.
STRENGTH
Form fists and then pull them out away from your body a bit as if flexing your biceps.
POWERFUL
Form fists and then pull them out away from your body a bit as if flexing your biceps.
STUPID
(Version 2)
Take a “V” hand and start palm down, then flip it and whack the front of your forehead with the back of your “V” hand.
DUMB
(Version 2)
Take a “V” hand and start palm down, then flip it and whack the front of your forehead with the back of your “V” hand.
IGNORANT
(Version 2)
Take a “V” hand and start palm down, then flip it and whack the front of your forehead with the back of your “V” hand.
SURPRISED
The sign for surprise is similar to “wake up” except that “surprise” uses a much faster and bigger movement. Plus surprise uses a “surprised” facial expression.
AMAZED
The sign for amazed is similar to “wake up” except that “amazed” uses a much faster and bigger movement. Plus amazed uses a surprised facial expression.
TALL
(Version 1)
A good general sign is made by placing your right index finger on the palm of your left hand (if you are right handed) and moving the finger upward a few inches. This version is a good one to use to describe trees, buildings, or even people.
TALL
(Version 2)
Bend your hand at the large knuckle and bring it up to the top of your head, away from your body.
THEY
In general you point towards the various people or items that are being referred to and use a small sweeping movement.
THEM
In general you point towards the various people or items that are being referred to and use a small sweeping movement.
TIRED
The sign for “tired” starts out very similar to the sign “HAVE” and then the hands slump downward. Don’t slide the hands downward, just change the orientation of the hands.
EXHAUSTED
The sign for “exhausted” starts out very similar to the sign “HAVE” and then the hands slump downward. Don’t slide the hands downward, just change the orientation of the hands.
UGLY
The sign for “ugly” changes a “1”-handshape (a straight index finger) into an “X”-handshape (a bent index finger).
Place your index finger (palm down) under your nose. Pull it to your right (if you are right handed) while changing the handshape into an “X.” Use an “ugly” facial expression as you do this sign. This sign can be done either one handed or two handed.
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.
WE
Take an index finger and touch the right side of your chest, move the pointer down, forwards, and to the left then touch the left side of your chest
US
Take an index finger and touch the right side of your chest, move the pointer down, forwards, and to the left then touch the left side of your chest
WEAK
The sign for “weak” places the fingertips of the dominant hand on the palm of the non-dominant hand and then bends the knuckles twice. Since I’m right handed, my left hand stays still. My right hand moves down, up, down.
Memory Aid: Think of being “weak in the knees.”
WEAKNESS
The sign for “weakness” places the fingertips of the dominant hand on the palm of the non-dominant hand and then bends the knuckles twice. Since I’m right handed, my left hand stays still. My right hand moves down, up, down.
Memory Aid: Think of being “weak in the knees.”
YOU
Take an index finger and point to the person you are talking to.
YOU-PLURAL
Take an index finger and making a sweeping motion from left to right in front of your body.
