PocketSign
Intermediate

POW and POWOO for Sudden Impact

POW and POWOO show sudden impact, surprise, a hit, a boom, or a sudden mental blank.

All Mouth Morphemes lessons
Close-up of an ASL signer using a sudden POW mouth for impact or surprise

Learn It

Start with the simple version, then practice it with real signs.

POW is a sudden mouth shape. It can match a hit, burst, impact, explosion, or sudden event.

POWOO can show a stronger or more drawn sudden effect, such as being shocked or suddenly forgetting.

Use these in stories when something happens fast and the viewer should feel the impact.

SuddenThe mouth should happen quickly.
ImpactUse it for hits, bursts, crashes, or sudden surprise.
Story timingPlace it exactly where the sudden event happens.

Try It

Practice slowly. Make the mouth shape at the same time as the sign.

  1. Sign with POW at the crash moment.
  2. Sign BLOW-UP with POW.
  3. Sign with POWOO.

Simple Examples

Read the ASL line first. A dark green pill names the mouth shape, not an extra sign.

ASL line . POW mouth
MeaningThe car crashed suddenly.
TipPOW lands on the impact.
Mouth actionPOW mouthUse the sudden mouth shape at CRASH.
ASL line BLOW-UP. POW mouth
MeaningThe light burst or blew out.
TipThe mouth shape gives the event a pop.
Mouth actionPOW mouthMake the mouth shape quick and sharp.
ASL line . POWOO mouth
MeaningI suddenly forgot.
TipPOWOO can show a sudden mental blank.
Mouth actionPOWOO mouthUse the drawn sudden mouth shape during FORGET.

Common Mistake

Do not stretch POW across a whole sentence. It belongs at the sudden moment.

Deeper Note

A little more grammar

Impact mouth morphemes are useful in storytelling because they make timing visible. The hands show what happened; the mouth shows the sudden force.