ASL 101 Vocabulary Flashcards

Flashcards for learning basic ASL vocabulary.

Adopt

Both hands like they're picking up something, then to fists.

Afternoon

Sign for 'Adopt' followed by the sign for 'Noon'

Alabama

A-L-A

Alaska

Think of the fur on a hooded parka.

Alberta

A-hand brushes backwards twice on back of loose-non-dominant hand

All

DH across body A shape then L shape (A-L-L); or flat hands with DH in front of NDH twisting around to final 'good' position.

Alphabet

Finger spelling.

Annoying

Flat hands, palms sideways, DH tapping repeatedly on NDH.

Arizona

Think of the sign for hot.

Arkansas

A-R-K

Arrogant

L shape with curved index fingers (big) coming out from both sides of forehead.

ASL

American Sign Language.

Aunt

A twisting at your chin.

Baby

Sign that resembles holding a small infant.

Bad

Sign meaning undesirable.

Best friend

"R" shape pushed out.

Book

Opening book.

Bored

So board that you're picking your nose.

Boring

Twisted finger next to nose.

Born

Sign representing creation or existence.

Born/enter

Dominant hand scoots under flat non-dominant hand.

Boy friend

Sign combination for affection and companionship.

Break-up

Fists together then separated both spelling up; or linked thumb/index fingers separating.

British Columbia

BC

Brother

Index finger from forehead.

Busy

Dominant hand wave over other fist.

California

Similar to the sign for gold, think of the California Gold Rush.

Child

Patting a child on the head.

Children

Patting with both hands.

City

Both flat hands, palms down, tap at point in front, or little twist.

Classifier "V"

V hand within context - eyes, legs, walking, jumping

College

(Non-dominant palm sideways, dominant palm out and up from non-dominant)

Colorado

The first 5 letters of the word spell COLOR, so sign COLOR and then fingerspell the remaining letters, A-D-O.

Complain

C shape hand couple times on chest.

Confused

Point to head, then show mixed up - 5 hands sphere in front.

Connecticut

C-O-N-N

Considerate

Think of others, index points to forehead then moves to A shape, then flips over and out.

Cousin

C shaking at side of head, gender male forehead, female chin.

Cup

C hand on flat non-dominant hand.

Cute

U shape with thumb out brush in front of chin a couple times.

Daughter

Represents a female offspring.

Dead/die/pass away

Flat hands NDH down, DH up then flip them over.

deaf

Inability of a person to hear, either totally or partially.

Delaware

D-E-L

Divorced

Move D hands away from one another.

Don't like

Like, but flicking it out, head shake.

don't understand

Expression of incomprehension.

Door

Two flat hands, palms out, dominant move back/forth while non- dominant stays still.

Embarrassed

Flat shape either side of face small circles; or sign red, then L shape frame face.

Emotional

E hands moving in outward circular motion

Excited

"Feeler" fingers move up on your chest.

Family

Group of individuals related by blood, marriage, or adoption.

Father

Represents a male parent.

Favourite

Middle finger pointing to chin.

Fiancé

DH F tap on ring of flat NDH.

Fine

5 hand thumb to chest.

Florida

F-L-A

Foster

Index finger brushing up against nose (also sign for 'fake')

Friend

Person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection.

Friendly

Wiggly fingers in smile shape in front of mouth

Friends

Plural of friend.

Frustrated

B hand palm out coming towards your mouth

Fun

U shaped hands. NDH palm down in front, DH from nose to NDH fingertips

Funny

U shape with thumb out brush in front of nose a couple times, can make a funny face

Georgia

G-A

Girl friend

Sign combination for female friend.

Give

Flat O hand moving towards the person you are giving something to

Go

Sign to move.

Good or well

Sign to express approval.

Goodbye

Sign to say farewell.

Grandchildren

Fingerspell grand then sign children

Granddaughter

Fingerspell grand then sign daughter

Grandfather

Sign combination for male grandparent.

Grandmother

Sign combination for female grandparent.

Grandson

Fingerspell grand then sign son

Grouchy

Big 5 hand right up to face close fingers a couple times, grouchy face.

Grow up

Dominant hand, slight curve, going up from waist level to head level.

Grow-up

Dominant hand, slight curve, going up from waist level to head level.

Gullible

B shape hand palm sideways coming down from chin to stomach.

Happy

Expressing joy.

Hard of hearing

Difficulties in hearing.

Hardworking

Like the sign work but talking about somebody

Hawaii

Think of the sign BEAUTIFUL made with the H handshape.

Hearing

Act of perceiving sound through the ears.

Hello

Sign to greet.

Help

Action of providing assistance.

Helpful

Help sign rapidly to everybody

Hi

Sign to greet.

How

Seeking information.

How are you?

Inquiring about someone's well-being.

Humble

NDH flat palm down, DH flat palm sideways coming from mouth under NDH

Hungry

Sign to indicate desiring to eat.

Husband

Sign for male spouse.

Idaho

I-D-A-H-O

Illinois

I-L-L

In-law

NDH flat, DH L going down

Indiana

I-N-D

Interesting

Thumb and middle finger on both hands come together while moving out from your body

Introduce

Action of presenting someone.

Iowa

I-O-W-A