Lessons
PocketSign
PocketSign

How to Sign "Brick"

To sign "brick", start by forming "C" shapes with both hands. Use your thumbs and index fingers to make the "C" while keeping your other fingers curled inward. Hold your hands out in front of your chest with your palms facing each other, spacing them a few inches apart as if you are physically holding the ends of a rectangular brick. Finally, move both hands slightly downward together in a single, firm motion. This movement helps emphasize the solid shape and weight of the brick.

Examples Using "Brick" in a Sentence

1

The house is made of red brick.

To sign this, you can sign "house", then "red", and finally "brick". This sequence sets up the topic first, followed by its descriptive color and material. Placing the adjectives right before or after the noun is a very common and natural sentence structure in ASL.

2

I need one more brick for the wall.

Start by pointing to yourself for "I", sign "need", then "one", and follow it with the sign for "brick". You can finish by signing "wall" to give the complete context of what you are building. Keeping your movements clear helps the listener visualize the construction.

3

He dropped a heavy brick.

Sign "he" by pointing to your side, then sign "heavy" by dropping both hands slightly as if holding a weight. Follow this with "brick", and finally use a downward dropping motion to show the action of the brick falling. Showing the weight adds great visual detail.

How to Sign "Brick"
To sign "brick", start by forming "C" shapes with both hands. Use your thumbs and index fingers to make the "C" while keeping your other fingers curled inward. Hold your hands out in front of your chest with your palms facing each other, spacing them a few inches apart as if you are physically holding the ends of a rectangular brick. Finally, move both hands slightly downward together in a single, firm motion. This movement helps emphasize the solid shape and weight of the brick.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
The sign for "brick" is highly iconic and visually motivated. The "C" handshapes directly mimic the physical action of a person grasping the thick, flat ends of a rectangular brick. By holding your hands at a specific distance and moving them downward, you are outlining the size, shape, and heavy nature of the object. This type of sign relies on classifiers—using the hands to show the exact dimensions and physical boundaries of the item being discussed.
Signing Tips
When signing "brick", keep your handshapes firm and rigid to accurately represent the solid, hard nature of the object. The distance between your two hands should roughly match the actual length of a standard building brick. Ensure your palms stay facing each other throughout the short downward movement, maintaining the illusion that you are holding a physical block in the air. A crisp, deliberate downward motion helps convey the heavy weight and solid form of the brick.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is making the distance between your hands too wide, which can make the sign look like you are describing a large box or a long board instead of a brick. Another frequent error is using flat hands instead of the "C" handshape; flat hands change the meaning to simply describing a generic shape or a room. Make sure your index fingers and thumbs clearly form the thick edges of the brick to keep the sign accurate.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "Brick" in a Sentence
1

The house is made of red brick.

To sign this, you can sign "house", then "red", and finally "brick". This sequence sets up the topic first, followed by its descriptive color and material. Placing the adjectives right before or after the noun is a very common and natural sentence structure in ASL.

2

I need one more brick for the wall.

Start by pointing to yourself for "I", sign "need", then "one", and follow it with the sign for "brick". You can finish by signing "wall" to give the complete context of what you are building. Keeping your movements clear helps the listener visualize the construction.

3

He dropped a heavy brick.

Sign "he" by pointing to your side, then sign "heavy" by dropping both hands slightly as if holding a weight. Follow this with "brick", and finally use a downward dropping motion to show the action of the brick falling. Showing the weight adds great visual detail.

Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use this sign to mean a block of wood?

While the handshape is similar for any rectangular object, this specific sign is usually understood as a building brick. If you want to talk about a block of wood, you should sign "wood" first, and then use this same "C" handshape to describe the block's size and shape.

Does the sign change if the brick is larger?

Yes! Because ASL is a highly visual language, you can easily adjust the distance between your hands to show the exact size of the object. If you are talking about a massive cinder block, you would simply hold your hands much further apart to reflect its true dimensions.

Do I need to sign "red" before signing "brick"?

No, you do not need to sign "red" unless you are specifically talking about a red brick. While many people associate bricks with the color red, the sign shown in the video means "brick" on its own, regardless of its actual color or what it is made of.

ASL is a beautiful, expressive language. Practice regularly and have fun!