To sign *gerbil*, you will combine the signs for *rat* and *pet*. Start by forming an 'R' handshape with your dominant hand (crossing your index and middle fingers) and brush it against your nose. Next, hold your non-dominant hand in front of you as a closed fist with the palm facing down. Finally, open your dominant hand into a flat shape and stroke the back of your non-dominant fist, mimicking the action of petting a small animal.
Sign *gerbil*, then use the sign for *cage* (interlocking your fingers to look like metal bars) followed by the sign for *new*.
Sign *gerbil*, then use your index fingers rotating around each other to mimic a wheel spinning in a continuous circle.
Sign *sister*, *want*, and then *gerbil*. Since the sign for *gerbil* shown here already includes the motion for *pet*, you do not need to sign *pet* twice!
Sign *gerbil*, then use the sign for *cage* (interlocking your fingers to look like metal bars) followed by the sign for *new*.
Sign *gerbil*, then use your index fingers rotating around each other to mimic a wheel spinning in a continuous circle.
Sign *sister*, *want*, and then *gerbil*. Since the sign for *gerbil* shown here already includes the motion for *pet*, you do not need to sign *pet* twice!
Yes! Fingerspelling G-E-R-B-I-L is very common and widely understood, especially since specific small rodents often do not have universally standardized single signs.
Because gerbils are rodents, this compound sign uses the sign for *rat* (an 'R' handshape at the nose) combined with the sign for *pet* to specifically describe a small pet rodent.
No. While both might be fingerspelled, *hamster* is sometimes signed by puffing out your cheeks and pushing your hands against them to mimic a hamster storing food, whereas *gerbil* uses the *rat* and *pet* compound.
