How to sign
Mother in ASL
Mother is an open hand with the thumb tapping the chin. The chin is the female location in ASL family signs.
- Single sign
- One hand
- Handshape: Open hand, fingers spread (5 hand)
- Chin
- Family
How to sign mother
- 1
Spread your fingers in an open hand.
- 2
Tap the thumb against your chin twice.
- 3
For GRANDMOTHER, do the same and then bounce the hand forward in two small arcs.
Common mistakes
- Tapping the forehead. That's FATHER.
- Using a closed hand. The fingers are spread.
Use it in a sentence
English sentences you can sign with Mother. In ASL the word order can shift and filler words drop away.
- “She is my mother.”
Keep going
More family signs
Questions about “Mother”
Same sign. MOTHER and MOM are not distinguished in ASL. Some signers tap once for a quick casual version.
Guide
Family
The ASL family signs share one simple rule about the forehead and chin. Learn mother, father, grandparents, siblings, and cousins with video and memory hooks.
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