American Sign Language Vocabulary: Chapters 1–5

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering essential American Sign Language vocabulary across Chapters 1 through 5, including pronouns, school terms, courtesy signs, physical descriptions, objects, actions, and directional verbs.

I, me

A first-person singular personal pronoun in ASL, signed by pointing the index finger directly toward one's own chest.

You

A second-person singular personal pronoun in ASL, signed by pointing the index finger outward toward the person being addressed.

We, us

A first-person plural personal pronoun in ASL, signed by placing the index finger at the dominant side of the chest and arcing it across to touch the non-dominant side.

My, mine

A first-person possessive pronoun in ASL, signed by placing the flat open palm of the dominant hand against the center of the chest.

Student

An ASL compound sign formed by executing the sign for LEARN (lifting information from the flat non-dominant palm to the forehead) combined with the flat two-handed downward AGENT/PERSON marker.

Teacher, professor

An ASL compound sign produced by moving both flattened O-hands outward from the temples (TEACH) followed by the downward parallel palms of the AGENT/PERSON marker.

Mother

A family sign produced by touching the thumb of an open 5-hand against the chin.

Father

A family sign produced by touching the thumb of an open 5-hand against the forehead.

Deaf

An ASL identity sign produced by touching the tip of the index finger to the cheek near the ear and then to the cheek near the mouth (or vice versa).

Hearing (person), say, speaking

An ASL sign produced by rotating the horizontal index finger forward in small repeated circles in front of the mouth.

Meet-you

A directional ASL sign where the dominant index finger moves toward the non-dominant upright index finger until the knuckles touch.

Teach, educate

An ASL sign executed with flattened O-hands near both sides of the forehead, moving forward simultaneously.

Learn, acquire

An ASL sign produced by placing the fingers of the dominant hand on the non-dominant palm, then pulling them upward into a flattened O-hand at the forehead as if taking knowledge into the mind.

Class, group, category, team

An ASL sign executed with both hands in C-handshapes starting with knuckles touching, arcing outward and around until the pinky sides touch.

School, academic

An ASL sign formed by clapping the flat dominant palm down onto the flat non-dominant palm twice in a horizontal orientation.

Residential-school, school for the Deaf, institution, institute

An ASL sign formed by touching the pinky edge of the dominant I-hand onto the back of the non-dominant I-hand repeatedly.

Mainstream

An ASL sign produced with both open 5-hands starting apart and moving forward and inward until the fingers interlace and point forward, representing merging paths.

Sign, sign language, signing

An ASL sign produced by rotating both 1-hands in alternating circular movements toward the chest.

Fingerspell, spell

An ASL sign produced with the dominant hand open palm down, wiggling the fingers while moving the hand outward to the side.

Paper, page

An ASL sign formed by brushing the heels of both flat open hands against each other in an inward sliding motion twice.

Understand

An ASL sign produced by flicking the index finger upward near the temple from a closed fist, resembling a light bulb turning on in the mind.

Again, repeat

An ASL sign produced by bending the flat dominant hand and arcing it over into the upward-facing flat non-dominant palm.

Thank-you

An ASL courtesy sign executed by touching the fingertips of the flat dominant hand to the lips/chin and moving the hand outward and slightly down with palm facing up.

Excuse-me, pardon-me

An ASL courtesy sign produced by sliding the fingertips of the bent dominant hand forward across the flat, upward-facing non-dominant palm.

Sorry, apologize

An ASL courtesy sign produced by rubbing an A-handshape in a circular motion over the center of the chest.

Library

An ASL sign produced with an L-handshape, rotating it in a clockwise circular motion in the neutral signing space.

Cafeteria

An ASL sign produced by touching a C-handshape to one corner of the chin and then the other corner.

Desk, table

An ASL sign formed by resting both forearms horizontally on top of each other and tapping the dominant forearm down onto the non-dominant forearm.

Help

An ASL sign produced by placing an upright A-handshape on the upward-facing flat non-dominant palm and lifting both upward.

Show, demonstrate, example

An ASL directional sign produced by pressing the tip of the dominant index finger into the center of the upright open non-dominant palm and moving both forward.

Hurry, rush

An ASL sign executed with both H-handshapes moving rapidly up and down in an alternating fashion.

I-help-you

An inflecting directional form of HELP, where the A-hand resting on the non-dominant palm moves directly outward from the signer toward the addressee.

He/she-help-me

An inflecting directional form of HELP, where the A-hand resting on the flat palm moves from a third-person location toward the signer's chest.

Red

An ASL color sign produced by stroking the tip of the dominant index finger downward across the lips.

Blue

An ASL color sign produced by shaking a B-handshape back and forth with a twist of the wrist.

Black, black person

An ASL sign produced by drawing the index finger horizontally across the forehead above the eyebrows.

White

An ASL color sign produced by placing an open 5-hand against the chest and pulling it outward while closing the fingers into a flat O-handshape.

Dress, clothes

An ASL noun sign produced by brushing the thumbs of both open 5-hands downward along the front of the torso twice.

Shirt, blouse

An ASL sign executed by pinching the fabric or area near the upper chest with the thumb and index finger (an F-handshape) in repeated tugs.

Appearance, looks, face

An ASL descriptive sign produced by circling the index finger completely around the perimeter of the face.

Smart, intelligent

An ASL characteristic sign produced by touching the tip of the middle finger (or index finger) to the forehead and twisting/flicking the hand outward.

Friendly, pleasant, cheerful

An ASL descriptive sign executed with both 5-hands near the sides of the face, wiggling the fingers while drawing the hands backward with an open expression.

Arrogant, egotistical

An ASL descriptive sign produced by placing both modified L-hands or bent index fingers near the sides of the temples and moving them outward while cocking the head.

Look^like

An ASL compound sign formed by circling the index finger around the face (LOOK/FACE) smoothly transitioning into a Y-handshape moving side-to-side (SAME/LIKE).

Open-door

An ASL action sign produced with both flat B-hands upright side by side, where the dominant hand swings open inward or outward like a swinging door.

Close-door

An ASL action sign produced by swinging the dominant upright B-hand back until the index edge touches the non-dominant B-hand, simulating closing a door.

Open-window

An ASL action sign produced with flat B-hands stacked horizontally, with the top (dominant) hand sliding upward to represent opening a sash window.

Close-window

An ASL action sign produced with flat B-hands stacked horizontally, where the dominant hand moves down onto the non-dominant hand, representing pulling a window shut.

Turn-on (light)

An ASL sign produced by starting with both hands in flattened O-shapes overhead and opening them outward into 5-shapes, representing rays of illumination turning on.

Turn-off (light)

An ASL sign produced by starting with open 5-hands overhead and closing them downward into flattened O-shapes, representing the lights going out.

Write

An ASL sign produced by holding the dominant thumb and index finger together as if gripping a pen, moving across the upward-facing flat non-dominant palm in small wiggles.

Car, automobile

An ASL noun sign produced by holding both hands in S-handshapes in front of the body and moving them up and down alternately as if steering a vehicle.

Hot

An ASL temperature sign produced with a claw-hand placed in front of the mouth and turned outward and downward rapidly with an expressive facial grimace.

Cold

An ASL temperature sign produced by holding both S-handshapes close to the chest with bent elbows and shivering them side-to-side.

Can't

An ASL modal sign produced by striking the extended dominant index finger downward against the extended non-dominant index finger.