Lessons
PocketSign
PocketSign

How to Sign "Brooklyn"

To sign Brooklyn, form a 'B' handshape with your dominant hand, keeping your fingers straight and your thumb tucked in or resting alongside your palm. Raise your hand to about shoulder level with your palm facing forward. Give your hand a slight double bounce or shake. This simple initialized sign is widely used to refer to the New York City borough.

Examples Using "Brooklyn" in a Sentence

1

I live in Brooklyn.

Point to yourself to sign 'I', use both 'A' hands moving upward on your torso for 'LIVE', and then perform the bouncing 'B' handshape for 'BROOKLYN'.

2

We are visiting Brooklyn next week.

Start by signing 'NEXT WEEK' by moving your dominant hand forward, sign 'WE', use the 'V' handshapes circling for 'VISIT', and finish with the 'B' handshape bounce for 'BROOKLYN'.

3

Brooklyn has great pizza.

Establish the topic by signing 'BROOKLYN' with your bouncing 'B' handshape, sign 'PIZZA' using the bent 'V' handshape, and finish with an enthusiastic 'GREAT'.

How to Sign "Brooklyn"
To sign Brooklyn, form a 'B' handshape with your dominant hand, keeping your fingers straight and your thumb tucked in or resting alongside your palm. Raise your hand to about shoulder level with your palm facing forward. Give your hand a slight double bounce or shake. This simple initialized sign is widely used to refer to the New York City borough.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
This is an initialized sign, meaning it uses the first letter of the English word—in this case, the 'B' handshape for Brooklyn. This handshape is combined with a slight bouncing or shaking movement, which is a common grammatical feature in ASL for indicating city names and locations.
Signing Tips
Keep your wrist relaxed so the bouncing motion looks natural and fluid rather than stiff or robotic. The movement should be small and controlled, staying right around your shoulder height. Make sure your palm stays facing forward throughout the entire motion.
Common Mistakes
A frequent mistake is using a single, large downward motion instead of a small double bounce. This can make it look like you are just placing a letter in space rather than signing a city name. Also, avoid twisting your wrist; keep your palm facing forward.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "Brooklyn" in a Sentence
1

I live in Brooklyn.

Point to yourself to sign 'I', use both 'A' hands moving upward on your torso for 'LIVE', and then perform the bouncing 'B' handshape for 'BROOKLYN'.

2

We are visiting Brooklyn next week.

Start by signing 'NEXT WEEK' by moving your dominant hand forward, sign 'WE', use the 'V' handshapes circling for 'VISIT', and finish with the 'B' handshape bounce for 'BROOKLYN'.

3

Brooklyn has great pizza.

Establish the topic by signing 'BROOKLYN' with your bouncing 'B' handshape, sign 'PIZZA' using the bent 'V' handshape, and finish with an enthusiastic 'GREAT'.

Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the only sign for Brooklyn?

Yes, this initialized 'B' sign is the standard and most widely recognized way to sign Brooklyn across the ASL community. While some local neighborhoods might have hyper-specific slang, this sign will be universally understood by ASL signers everywhere.

Do I need to mouth the word 'Brooklyn'?

It is highly recommended to mouth 'Brooklyn' slightly while signing. Because many cities and towns use similar initialized signs (like Boston or Baltimore), mouthing the word provides essential context and clarifies exactly which 'B' city you are referring to.

Can I sign this with my left hand?

Yes, you should always use your natural dominant hand for one-handed signs like this one. If you are left-handed, simply use your left hand to form the 'B' handshape and perform the bouncing motion on the left side of your body.

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