To sign 'indigestion,' start by forming a clawed '5' handshape with your dominant hand, keeping your fingers spread and slightly bent. Place your hand on your stomach. Make a slight twisting, rubbing, or squeezing motion against your abdomen. Be sure to include a facial expression that shows discomfort or pain to convey the feeling of an upset stomach.
Sign 'eat', 'spicy', then use the sign for 'indigestion' while showing a strong expression of discomfort to emphasize how bad your stomach feels.
Point to the person, sign 'medicine', then 'indigestion', and raise your eyebrows at the end to indicate a yes/no question.
Sign 'indigestion', then use the sign for 'finish' or 'gone' with a relieved facial expression to show that the pain has passed.
Sign 'eat', 'spicy', then use the sign for 'indigestion' while showing a strong expression of discomfort to emphasize how bad your stomach feels.
Point to the person, sign 'medicine', then 'indigestion', and raise your eyebrows at the end to indicate a yes/no question.
Sign 'indigestion', then use the sign for 'finish' or 'gone' with a relieved facial expression to show that the pain has passed.
Yes, this sign is often used interchangeably for 'stomachache,' 'upset stomach,' and 'indigestion.' The clawed motion on the abdomen perfectly captures the feeling of all these gastric issues.
Typically, 'indigestion' is signed with just your dominant hand. Using one hand is standard and clearly conveys the meaning, though you might instinctively use two hands if you are playfully exaggerating extreme pain.
To show severe indigestion, intensify your facial expression to look more pained, and make the twisting or clawing motion slightly sharper or more pronounced. In ASL, your face and the intensity of your movement act like volume controls.
