How to Sign "Captive"

To sign 'captive', start with your hands in front of you. Reach out with your dominant hand and firmly grasp the wrist of your non-dominant hand, while your non-dominant hand forms a fist (an 'S' shape). Pull both hands slightly downward and toward your body, as if you are physically restraining someone.

Examples Using "Captive" in a Sentence

1

The soldiers held him captive.

Sign 'soldier', then use the sign for 'captive' to show the action of taking someone prisoner. You can direct the motion slightly toward the space where you established the person.

2

The bird was kept captive in a cage.

First sign 'bird', then sign 'captive' to show it was caught or restrained, followed by the sign for 'cage' to describe its environment.

3

They took three captives during the battle.

Sign 'battle' or 'war', then 'three', and finally 'captive' to indicate the people who were captured. The context makes it clear you mean 'captives' as a noun.

How to Sign "Captive"
To sign 'captive', start with your hands in front of you. Reach out with your dominant hand and firmly grasp the wrist of your non-dominant hand, while your non-dominant hand forms a fist (an 'S' shape). Pull both hands slightly downward and toward your body, as if you are physically restraining someone.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
This sign is highly iconic, visually representing the act of physically grabbing someone by the wrist to restrain them or take them prisoner. The firm grasp and downward pull mimic the real-world action of capturing or holding someone against their will.
Signing Tips
Focus on the crispness of the grasping motion. The dominant hand should firmly grab the non-dominant wrist, and the slight downward pull adds emphasis to the idea of restraint or capture. Keep your facial expression serious to match the weight of the word.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is just tapping the wrist instead of firmly grasping it. Make sure your dominant hand fully wraps around the non-dominant wrist to clearly convey the idea of taking hold of someone or something.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "Captive" in a Sentence
1

The soldiers held him captive.

Sign 'soldier', then use the sign for 'captive' to show the action of taking someone prisoner. You can direct the motion slightly toward the space where you established the person.

2

The bird was kept captive in a cage.

First sign 'bird', then sign 'captive' to show it was caught or restrained, followed by the sign for 'cage' to describe its environment.

3

They took three captives during the battle.

Sign 'battle' or 'war', then 'three', and finally 'captive' to indicate the people who were captured. The context makes it clear you mean 'captives' as a noun.

Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the same sign as 'arrest'?

Yes, this sign is often used interchangeably with 'arrest', 'capture', or 'catch' depending on the context of your sentence. The core meaning is about physically taking hold of someone.

Does it matter which hand grabs which?

Yes, your dominant hand should be the one doing the grabbing, while your non-dominant hand is the one being grabbed. This follows the general ASL rule where the dominant hand performs the primary action.

Can I use this sign for feeling 'captivated' by a movie?

No, this sign specifically refers to physical captivity or being taken prisoner. For feeling fascinated or captivated by something abstract like a movie or story, you would use signs like 'fascinate' or 'absorb'.

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