To sign 'eldest,' start by making a 'C' handshape with your dominant hand and placing it at your chin. Pull your hand downward while closing it into an 'S' fist, resembling pulling a long beard, which is the sign for 'old.' Finally, move that closed fist straight upward to add the '-est' ending, showing that someone is the oldest.
To sign this, start by pointing to the person for 'she,' then sign 'my.' Next, perform the sign for 'eldest' by pulling down from your chin and moving the fist up. Finally, sign 'sister' by bringing your dominant 'L' hand down to your non-dominant 'L' hand.
Begin by pointing or setting up the group of children. Sign 'eldest' with the smooth downward-then-upward motion, followed by the sign for 'child' (patting an imaginary head). Finish with the sign for 'who' while furrowing your eyebrows to clearly indicate an open-ended question.
Start with 'my,' then sign 'eldest' and 'brother.' For 'brother,' bring your dominant 'L' hand from your forehead down to your non-dominant 'L' hand. Next, sign 'live' by bringing both 'A' hands upward on your chest, and finish by fingerspelling 'N-Y' for New York.
To sign this, start by pointing to the person for 'she,' then sign 'my.' Next, perform the sign for 'eldest' by pulling down from your chin and moving the fist up. Finally, sign 'sister' by bringing your dominant 'L' hand down to your non-dominant 'L' hand.
Begin by pointing or setting up the group of children. Sign 'eldest' with the smooth downward-then-upward motion, followed by the sign for 'child' (patting an imaginary head). Finish with the sign for 'who' while furrowing your eyebrows to clearly indicate an open-ended question.
Start with 'my,' then sign 'eldest' and 'brother.' For 'brother,' bring your dominant 'L' hand from your forehead down to your non-dominant 'L' hand. Next, sign 'live' by bringing both 'A' hands upward on your chest, and finish by fingerspelling 'N-Y' for New York.
In American Sign Language, the sign for 'oldest' and 'eldest' is exactly the same. ASL focuses on the core concept rather than exact English vocabulary. You will rely on the context of your sentence—such as discussing siblings or family members—to convey the specific English meaning of 'eldest.'
No, 'eldest' is strictly a one-handed sign. You only need to use your dominant hand to perform both the 'old' motion at the chin and the upward '-est' motion. Keep your non-dominant hand relaxed at your side so it doesn't distract from the primary movement.
Yes, you absolutely can! While the English word 'eldest' is usually reserved for people, especially family members, the ASL sign used here (which translates literally to 'oldest') can be used to describe the oldest of anything, whether it is a person, a building, or a physical object.
