PocketSign
Mouth Morphemes

Let your mouth add meaning while your hands sign.

Mouth morphemes help ASL show size, manner, effort, timing, success, and sudden impact without adding extra English words.

Start lessonsDeep dive
ASL signer ready to teach mouth morphemes with a clear face and black top
Learn by doing first.Each lesson teaches one mouth shape or small pair, then turns it into simple signs you can practice right away.
Build in order.Start with mouth morphemes versus English mouthing, then move from size and action manner into result, impact, distance, and duration.
Lessons 1 to 7

Start with the most useful mouth shapes

Build control with basics, size, average, careless, careful, and close-in-time meanings before adding storytelling details.

01ASL signer ready to teach mouth morphemes with a clear face and black topBasicMouth Morphemes BasicsA mouth morpheme is a specific mouth shape that adds meaning while your hands sign. It is different from silently mouthing English words.Start lesson
02Close-up of an ASL signer using a wide CHA mouth shape for very largeBasicCHA for Very LargeCHA uses a wide open mouth to show that something is very large, tall, thick, or intense.Start lesson
03Close-up of an ASL signer using rounded OO lips for small or thinBasicOO for Small or ThinOO uses small rounded lips to show that something is small, thin, narrow, smooth, or delicate.Start lesson
04Close-up of an ASL signer using relaxed MM lips for normal or comfortableBasicMM for Average or ComfortableMM uses relaxed closed lips to show normal, average, medium, comfortable, or easy.Start lesson
05Close-up of an ASL signer using TH mouth with tongue slightly out for careless actionBasicTH for Careless ActionTH shows that an action is careless, sloppy, lazy, mindless, or not precise.Start lesson
06Close-up of an ASL signer pressing lips tightly for careful or focused actionBasicTight Mouth for Careful ActionA tight or pressed mouth can show careful, focused, deliberate, or precise action.Start lesson
07Close-up of an ASL signer clenching teeth for CS mouth meaning just or very closePracticeCS for Just or Very CloseCS uses clenched teeth to show just happened, very near, very close, or tense nearness.Start lesson
Lessons 8 to 12

Add effort, result, impact, and distance

Use these after the first mouth shapes feel comfortable, especially when telling stories or describing a process.

08Close-up of an ASL signer puffing cheeks to show many or bulkyPracticePuffed Cheeks for Many or BulkyPuffed cheeks can show many, a lot, bulky, wide, fat, or long ago depending on the sign.Start lesson
09Close-up of an ASL signer showing repeated STA-STA mouth movement for long effortPracticeSTA-STA for Long EffortSTA-STA shows effort, struggle, delay, or a long process that takes work.Start lesson
10Close-up of an ASL signer showing an explosive PAH mouth for finally or successPracticePAH and FISH for ResultsPAH can mean finally or success. FISH connects with finish, done, or an action ending.Start lesson
11Close-up of an ASL signer using a sudden POW mouth for impact or surpriseIntermediatePOW and POWOO for Sudden ImpactPOW and POWOO show sudden impact, surprise, a hit, a boom, or a sudden mental blank.Start lesson
12Close-up of an ASL signer using an open AHH mouth for far distance or long durationIntermediateAHH and LA-LA-LA for DistanceAHH and LA-LA-LA can show far distance, all day, a long stretch of time, or a long list.Start lesson

Ready to practice mouth morphemes?

Begin with the basics, then practice each mouth shape with a few simple ASL lines.

Start Mouth Morphemes