Lessons
PocketSign
PocketSign

How to Sign "Bunny"

With both hands, make a fist, then release just your thumbs, index and middle fingers, keeping your ring fingers and pinkies closed into your palm. Bring both hands up to the side of your head, where your ears are, touching the outside of your pinkies to your head. Keeping your index and middle fingers together, wave them slightly back and forth (to indicate bunny ears waving).

Examples Using "Bunny" in a Sentence

1

Look at the cute bunny!

Sign 'CUTE' and then sign 'BUNNY' by bringing your hands to the sides of your head and waving your extended index and middle fingers backward.

2

I want a pet bunny.

Sign 'I WANT PET', then finish by signing 'BUNNY', making sure your ring and pinky fingers stay tucked into your palms while the 'ears' wave.

3

The bunny is hopping away.

Sign 'BUNNY' using the ear-waving motion at your head, then use a classifier (like a bent 'V' handshape) to show the animal hopping away from you.

How to Sign "Bunny"
With both hands, make a fist, then release just your thumbs, index and middle fingers, keeping your ring fingers and pinkies closed into your palm. Bring both hands up to the side of your head, where your ears are, touching the outside of your pinkies to your head. Keeping your index and middle fingers together, wave them slightly back and forth (to indicate bunny ears waving).
Visual Logic(Etymology)
This is a highly iconic sign, meaning it visually resembles the physical characteristics of the concept it represents. The placement of your hands at the upper sides of your head perfectly mimics the natural placement of a bunny's long ears. The extended, pressed-together index and middle fingers represent the ears themselves, while the gentle backward waving motion imitates the way a bunny's ears naturally twitch, flop, or fold back when they are listening or moving around.
Signing Tips
For a clear and natural-looking sign, make sure your index and middle fingers stay pressed tightly together to form a single, solid 'ear' on each side. Keep your thumbs resting gently against your tucked-in ring fingers. The waving motion should be a gentle backward flap bending at the base knuckles, rather than a frantic wiggle. Relax your shoulders, keep your facial expressions bright, and keep the movement light and playful to match the concept of a cute bunny!
Common Mistakes
A very common mistake for beginners is spreading the index and middle fingers apart into a 'V' shape, which makes the sign look like peace signs rather than solid animal ears. Another frequent error is curling the middle joints of the fingers into a claw shape instead of keeping them straight and bending only at the base knuckles. Finally, make sure the sides of your hands are actually touching your head, rather than hovering in the air.
Regional Variations
While the sign described here is the most common and universally recognized way to sign 'bunny' or 'rabbit', you may occasionally see another variation. In this alternative version, the hands are crossed at the wrists in front of the chest, using the same 'U' handshape waving backward. Both are widely understood across the United States, but the head-level version is especially popular when referring to a cute 'bunny'.
Examples Using "Bunny" in a Sentence
1

Look at the cute bunny!

Sign 'CUTE' and then sign 'BUNNY' by bringing your hands to the sides of your head and waving your extended index and middle fingers backward.

2

I want a pet bunny.

Sign 'I WANT PET', then finish by signing 'BUNNY', making sure your ring and pinky fingers stay tucked into your palms while the 'ears' wave.

3

The bunny is hopping away.

Sign 'BUNNY' using the ear-waving motion at your head, then use a classifier (like a bent 'V' handshape) to show the animal hopping away from you.

Frequently Asked Questions
Is the sign for 'bunny' the same as 'rabbit'?

Yes! In American Sign Language, the exact same sign is used for both 'bunny' and 'rabbit'. The English translation simply depends on the context of your conversation.

Do I move my whole arm or just my fingers?

Just your fingers! Keep your hands resting steadily against the sides of your head. The waving motion should come entirely from bending your index and middle fingers backward at the base knuckles.

Can I sign this with just one hand?

While it is technically a two-handed sign, in casual or fast-paced conversation, fluent signers will sometimes use just one hand to sign 'bunny', especially if their other hand is holding something.

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