How to Sign "Brother"
To make the sign brother, take both hands in the horizontal L handshape and place your dominant hand on your forehead, the. you will place it on top of your non dominant hand.
Examples Using "Brother" in a Sentence
1
He is my older brother.
Sign 'he', 'my', and 'older', then use the L-handshape sign for 'brother', moving your dominant hand from your forehead down to rest on your non-dominant hand.
2
Do you have a brother?
Point to the person for 'you', sign 'have', then sign 'brother' by bringing your dominant L-hand from your forehead to your non-dominant L-hand. Remember to keep your eyebrows raised for a yes/no question.
3
My brother is tall.
Sign 'my', then 'brother' starting at the forehead and moving down to the non-dominant hand, followed by the sign for 'tall'.
How to Sign "Brother"
To make the sign brother, take both hands in the horizontal L handshape and place your dominant hand on your forehead, the. you will place it on top of your non dominant hand.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
The sign for 'brother' visually combines the ASL concept for a male with the concept of being 'same' or 'alike.' In ASL, signs located at the forehead generally indicate male gender. The downward movement to meet the other hand represents the close bond between siblings.
Signing Tips
Focus on forming clear L-handshapes with both hands, ensuring your index fingers point forward and thumbs point up. The movement should be a smooth, continuous arc from the forehead down to the non-dominant hand. Keep your non-dominant hand steady to act as a clear landing pad.
Common Mistakes
A frequent error is starting the sign at the chin or cheek instead of the forehead, which accidentally changes the meaning to 'sister'. Make sure your dominant hand starts clearly at the forehead. Additionally, ensure you are using the 'L' handshape rather than just pointing your index fingers.
Regional Variations
You might see some signers use a '1' handshape (only the index fingers extended) instead of the 'L' handshape, or they may start with the traditional sign for 'boy' (grabbing an imaginary baseball cap) at the forehead before bringing the hand down.
Examples Using "Brother" in a Sentence
1He is my older brother.
Sign 'he', 'my', and 'older', then use the L-handshape sign for 'brother', moving your dominant hand from your forehead down to rest on your non-dominant hand.
2Do you have a brother?
Point to the person for 'you', sign 'have', then sign 'brother' by bringing your dominant L-hand from your forehead to your non-dominant L-hand. Remember to keep your eyebrows raised for a yes/no question.
3My brother is tall.
Sign 'my', then 'brother' starting at the forehead and moving down to the non-dominant hand, followed by the sign for 'tall'.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the sign start at the forehead?
In ASL, the face is divided into gendered zones. Signs relating to males, like 'father', 'boy', or 'brother', typically originate at the forehead or the upper half of the face.
Do I need to tap my hands together at the end?
You do not need to tap repeatedly. A single, distinct movement where your dominant L-hand comes down to rest on top of your non-dominant L-hand is all that is required to clearly communicate the word.
What if I am left-handed?
If you are left-handed, simply mirror the sign. Your left hand becomes the dominant hand that starts at your forehead and moves down, while your right hand stays stationary in front of your chest.
ASL is a beautiful, expressive language. Practice regularly and have fun!