Lessons
PocketSign
PocketSign

How to Sign "Hummingbird"

To sign 'hummingbird', raise your dominant hand near your face. Form a bird's beak by extending your index finger and thumb, keeping your middle, ring, and pinky fingers spread out. Repeatedly pinch your index finger and thumb together while rapidly fluttering your other three fingers. Move your hand around slightly in the air to mimic a hummingbird hovering and darting.

Examples Using "Hummingbird" in a Sentence

1

I saw a beautiful hummingbird in the garden.

To sign this, you would set the scene by signing 'garden' first, then sign 'hummingbird' while looking toward a specific spot in your signing space to show exactly where you saw it.

2

Hummingbirds fly incredibly fast.

Begin by signing 'hummingbird,' making sure to emphasize the rapid fluttering of your fingers. Follow this with the signs for 'fly' and 'fast,' using a quick, sharp motion to emphasize the bird's speed.

3

The hummingbird drank nectar from the red flower.

First, establish the 'red flower' in your signing space. Then, sign 'hummingbird' and move your hand toward the location of the flower to visually show the bird hovering and interacting with it.

How to Sign "Hummingbird"
To sign 'hummingbird', raise your dominant hand near your face. Form a bird's beak by extending your index finger and thumb, keeping your middle, ring, and pinky fingers spread out. Repeatedly pinch your index finger and thumb together while rapidly fluttering your other three fingers. Move your hand around slightly in the air to mimic a hummingbird hovering and darting.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
The sign for 'hummingbird' is a wonderful example of how American Sign Language uses visual representation to convey meaning. The sign is highly iconic, meaning it visually resembles the concept it represents. The pinching motion of the index finger and thumb mimics the long, slender beak of a hummingbird opening and closing. Meanwhile, the extended and fluttering middle, ring, and pinky fingers beautifully represent the bird's rapidly beating wings. By moving the hand around in space, the signer paints a clear picture of the hummingbird's unique ability to hover and dart from flower to flower.
Signing Tips
To make your sign for 'hummingbird' look as natural and accurate as possible, focus on the speed and lightness of your hand movements. Hummingbirds are known for their incredibly fast wing beats and quick, darting flight patterns. Try to capture this energy by fluttering your middle, ring, and pinky fingers rapidly while keeping your wrist relatively loose. When you move your hand around to show the bird hovering, use quick, short motions rather than slow, sweeping ones. Adding a slight facial expression of awe or focus can also help convey the delicate nature of the bird.
Common Mistakes
A frequent mistake beginners make when signing 'hummingbird' is forgetting to flutter the middle, ring, and pinky fingers. If you only pinch your index finger and thumb without the fluttering motion, the sign simply means 'bird.' Another common error is moving the hand too slowly or rigidly through the air, which fails to capture the energetic, hovering nature of a real hummingbird. Make sure your hand stays up near your face or shoulder level; dropping it too low can make the sign harder to see and disconnect it from the visual space typically used for flying animals.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "Hummingbird" in a Sentence
1

I saw a beautiful hummingbird in the garden.

To sign this, you would set the scene by signing 'garden' first, then sign 'hummingbird' while looking toward a specific spot in your signing space to show exactly where you saw it.

2

Hummingbirds fly incredibly fast.

Begin by signing 'hummingbird,' making sure to emphasize the rapid fluttering of your fingers. Follow this with the signs for 'fly' and 'fast,' using a quick, sharp motion to emphasize the bird's speed.

3

The hummingbird drank nectar from the red flower.

First, establish the 'red flower' in your signing space. Then, sign 'hummingbird' and move your hand toward the location of the flower to visually show the bird hovering and interacting with it.

Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to move my hand around while signing this?

Yes, moving your hand slightly in the air is important. It helps convey the hovering and darting motion that is characteristic of a hummingbird, making your sign much more descriptive and visually accurate.

Is this sign related to the standard sign for 'bird'?

Absolutely! It builds directly upon the standard 'bird' sign, which uses the pinching index and thumb to represent a beak. The addition of the fluttering fingers and hovering motion specifies that it is a hummingbird.

Should I use one hand or two hands for this sign?

The variation shown here uses only your dominant hand, which is the most common and standard way to sign it. Using two hands is unnecessary and might make the sign look cluttered or confusing to the viewer.

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