How to Sign "Germany"

To sign Germany, cross your hands at the wrists in front of your chest, with your dominant hand resting on top. Form an open '5' handshape with both hands, ensuring your palms are facing inward toward your body. Finally, wiggle your fingers continuously to complete the sign.

Examples Using "Germany" in a Sentence

1

I am traveling to Germany next year.

Sign 'I', 'travel', 'future/next year', and then sign 'Germany' by crossing your wrists and wiggling your fingers.

2

My friend lives in Germany.

Sign 'My', 'friend', 'live', and finish with the crossed-wrists sign for 'Germany'.

3

German food is delicious.

Sign 'Germany', 'food', and then 'delicious'. In ASL, the sign for the country is also used for the adjective 'German'.

How to Sign "Germany"
To sign Germany, cross your hands at the wrists in front of your chest, with your dominant hand resting on top. Form an open '5' handshape with both hands, ensuring your palms are facing inward toward your body. Finally, wiggle your fingers continuously to complete the sign.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
The sign for Germany is highly iconic and visually represents the double-headed eagle (Reichsadler). This eagle has been a prominent national symbol in German heraldry and coats of arms for centuries. The crossed wrists form the body of the bird, while the wiggling fingers mimic its fluttering wings.
Signing Tips
When signing Germany, keep your wrists gently pressed together as your anchor point. The movement should be entirely in your fingers, fluttering them simultaneously. Relax your hands to make the wiggling motion look natural and fluid, much like the wings of a bird.
Common Mistakes
A frequent mistake beginners make is facing their palms outward toward the viewer instead of inward toward their own chest. Another common error is moving the arms up and down; remember to keep your arms still and let only your fingers do the wiggling.
Regional Variations
You might occasionally see an older sign for Germany where an index finger is placed against the forehead, pointing upward. This represented the spiked helmets (Pickelhaube) worn by the German military in the past. However, the 'eagle' sign shown here is much more common and widely preferred today.
Examples Using "Germany" in a Sentence
1

I am traveling to Germany next year.

Sign 'I', 'travel', 'future/next year', and then sign 'Germany' by crossing your wrists and wiggling your fingers.

2

My friend lives in Germany.

Sign 'My', 'friend', 'live', and finish with the crossed-wrists sign for 'Germany'.

3

German food is delicious.

Sign 'Germany', 'food', and then 'delicious'. In ASL, the sign for the country is also used for the adjective 'German'.

Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use this sign to say 'German' as well?

Yes! In ASL, the sign for the country of Germany is also used to describe things that are German, such as German people, German culture, or the German language.

Does it matter which hand is on top when I cross my wrists?

Generally, you should place your dominant hand on top of your non-dominant hand. However, if you accidentally reverse them, the sign will still be easily understood by fluent signers.

Should my thumbs be interlocked?

No, you do not need to interlock your thumbs for this specific sign. Simply crossing your wrists and keeping your hands in an open '5' shape with your fingers spread is the correct and most comfortable method.

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