Sign Language

SIGN LANGUAGE CHEAT SHEET

By: Sheryl Balciar

Adapted from www.commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/aslweb/browser.htm

Updated: February 5, 2008

FOODS/DRINKS

Milk-squeeze hand like milking a cow

Juice-“drink” plus “J”

Water-“W” with forefinger touching chin

Cheese-palms press and twist

Cereal-hand “scoops” from opposite palm to mouth

Noodle-pinkies meet then pull apart

Chocolate-“C” with thumb circling back of hand

Cracker-hand crosses over to opposite elbow and pats

Cookie-hand twists over opposite palm

Fruit-“F” twists at side of mouth

Meat-thumb and forefinger pinch between on fatty part

Vegetable-“V” twists at side of mouth with forefinger touching

Egg-“H” on “H” and then “crack”

ACTIONS

Help-fist sits on palm with thumb up; raise both hands up

Eat-fingers and thumb together touching mouth

Drink-“C” reaches mouth like drinking

Stop-hand “slices” opposite palm

Wash-“A” over “A”

Draw-pinkie “draws” on opposite hand

Toilet-“T” shakes

Dance-upside down “V” across palm

Sleep-“5” hand pulls eyes closed; head drops down

Play-“Y” hands shake

Dress-thumbs on chest move down with fingers spread

Read-upside down “V” brushes down on palm

Paint-“U” brushes down on palm

Open-index fingers begin together and move apart leaving palms up

Close-index fingers meet in the middle with palms down

TOYS/ACTIVITIES

Toy-“play” sign using “T” hands

Ball-fingers touch fingers and thumb touches thumb as in the shape of a ball

Music-hand moves back and forth in crook of arm

Book-hands show the cover of a book opening

Car-hands mimic steering

Train-“U” moves over “U”

Bus-fingerspell b-u-s

Puzzle-down-turned finger manipulates pieces of a puzzle

Movie-palm down, opposite hand waves

Bath-thumbs up with fists rubbing up and down chest

Bead-“F” across neck (like a necklace)

Bed-head rests on one hand

Game-“a” with thumbs up, crash down

ADJECTIVES

Big-hands move apart

Little-hands come together

PEOPLE

Mom-“5” with thumb on chin and fingers wiggling

Dad-thumb of open hand taps side of forehead

Boy-hand grasps visor of a cap

Brother-thumb off forehead

Girl-“A” strokes side of chin

Sister-“Girl” changes to “L” and lands on opposite “L”

Friend-forefingers link

Grandma-“Mom” moves outward in small circular movement

Grandpa-“Dad” moves outward in small circular movement

Me-finger points to chest

Mine-palm on chest

ANIMALS

Cat-thumb and forefinger create whiskers

Dog-pat your thigh and snap your fingers

Cow-“Y” off side of head

Horse-thumb on head; forefinger and index finger twist down

Pig-hand flaps under chin

Chicken-thumb meets forefinger (like a peck)

Rooster-“3” off top of head

Duck-thumb meets forefinger and index finger

Sheep-scissors cut up arm

Donkey-thumb off head, fingers flap like “bye”

Owl-circle your eyes

Bee-“F” touches cheek (like an insect biting) and then hand brushes it aside

Bird-thumb and forefinger mimic action of bird’s beak

Fish-hand mimics movement of tail

Rabbit-“U” indicates ears; bend fingers back

Bug- “3” near the nose

COLORS

Red-forefinger drops down over lips

Blue-“B” shakes

Yellow-“Y” shakes

Green-“G” shakes

Orange-squeeze fingers near mouth

Pink-“Red” is made with “P” hand shape

Purple-“P” shakes down

White-“5” hand on chest, pull straight out with fingertips coming together

Brown-“B” down side of face

Black-forefinger draws across forehead

MISCELLANEOUS

Please-open hand circles over heart

Thank you-hand moves out off chin

More- thumbs and fingers on opposite hands come together

Sorry-“a” hand circles the heart