How to Sign "Elephant"
To sign “Elephant”, Using your dominant hand into a closed and curved “B” handshape. Start with your back of wrist on your nose. From your nose, you make sure you are tracing your hand to create like an elephant trunk.
Examples Using "Elephant" in a Sentence
1
Look at the big elephant!
Sign 'look' and 'big', then use your dominant hand in a curved 'B' shape, starting with your wrist at your nose, to trace the elephant's trunk.
2
My favorite animal is the elephant.
Sign 'my', 'favorite', and 'animal', then finish the sentence by placing the back of your wrist on your nose and extending it outward to sign 'elephant'.
3
The elephant is drinking water.
First, establish the subject by signing 'elephant' (tracing the trunk from your nose), then follow up with the signs for 'water' and 'drink'.
How to Sign "Elephant"
To sign “Elephant”, Using your dominant hand into a closed and curved “B” handshape. Start with your back of wrist on your nose. From your nose, you make sure you are tracing your hand to create like an elephant trunk.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
This sign is highly iconic, meaning it visually mimics the object it represents. The curved 'B' handshape acts as a visual stand-in for the elephant's long, thick trunk. By starting at the nose and extending outward and downward, you are literally drawing the shape and placement of the trunk on your own body. It is a perfect example of how American Sign Language uses the body to map out distinct animal features.
Signing Tips
To make your sign look natural, focus on the fluidity of the motion. Make sure your fingers are kept together in the closed 'B' handshape, but keep a gentle curve in them to accurately represent the roundness of a trunk. Start with the back of your wrist gently touching your nose, and extend your arm outward and downward in a smooth, sweeping motion. You don't need to reach all the way to the floor; extending your hand down to about chest level is perfect.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake beginners make is using a completely flat hand instead of a curved 'B' handshape, which makes the trunk look stiff rather than natural. Another frequent error is starting the sign from the mouth or chin instead of the nose. Remember, an elephant's trunk extends from the center of its face, so always start with the back of your wrist resting right on your nose before moving outward.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "Elephant" in a Sentence
1Look at the big elephant!
Sign 'look' and 'big', then use your dominant hand in a curved 'B' shape, starting with your wrist at your nose, to trace the elephant's trunk.
2My favorite animal is the elephant.
Sign 'my', 'favorite', and 'animal', then finish the sentence by placing the back of your wrist on your nose and extending it outward to sign 'elephant'.
3The elephant is drinking water.
First, establish the subject by signing 'elephant' (tracing the trunk from your nose), then follow up with the signs for 'water' and 'drink'.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far down should I trace the trunk?
You don't need to exaggerate the movement or reach toward the floor. Extending your hand outward and downward to about chest or stomach level is enough to clearly convey the idea of the trunk.
Should my fingers be spread apart or kept together?
Keep your fingers together. The description specifies a 'closed and curved B handshape.' Keeping your fingers tight together helps illustrate the solid, thick mass of an elephant's trunk.
Does it matter which hand I use?
You should always use your dominant hand for this sign. If you are right-handed, place the back of your right wrist on your nose. If you are left-handed, use your left hand.
ASL is a beautiful, expressive language. Practice regularly and have fun!