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How to Sign "Lived"

To sign 'lived', you will use the standard sign for 'live'. Form 'L' handshapes with both hands by extending your index fingers and thumbs while curling your other fingers. Place both hands near your lower torso with your palms facing your body and your thumbs pointing up. Smoothly move both hands straight up to your upper chest.

Examples Using "Lived" in a Sentence

1

I lived in California for two years.

Start by establishing the past tense with the sign for 'PAST', then sign 'I', 'LIVE', 'CALIFORNIA', 'TWO', 'YEARS'.

2

My grandmother lived a long time.

Sign 'MY', 'GRANDMOTHER', 'LIVE', 'LONG-TIME'. The past tense is often implied by the context of the conversation, but you can add 'PAST' at the beginning to be clear.

3

Where have you lived?

Sign 'PAST', 'YOU', 'LIVE', 'WHERE', making sure to furrow your eyebrows at the end to indicate a 'wh-' question.

How to Sign "Lived"
To sign 'lived', you will use the standard sign for 'live'. Form 'L' handshapes with both hands by extending your index fingers and thumbs while curling your other fingers. Place both hands near your lower torso with your palms facing your body and your thumbs pointing up. Smoothly move both hands straight up to your upper chest.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
This sign is an initialized version of the traditional sign for 'live' or 'survive'. The upward movement along the chest visually represents the rising of breath, energy, or the life force within the body. The 'L' handshape is incorporated from the English word 'live'.
Signing Tips
Focus on keeping your palms facing your body throughout the movement. The upward motion should be smooth and deliberate, tracing the path of your torso without actually touching your shirt. Remember that ASL relies on context or time markers (like the sign for 'PAST') to indicate past tense, so the sign itself doesn't change for 'lived'.
Common Mistakes
A frequent mistake is moving the hands outward away from the chest rather than straight up along the torso. Another common error is forgetting to establish the past tense in the sentence, which can confuse the listener into thinking you are talking about where you currently live.
Regional Variations
While the 'L' handshape is very common, many signers prefer using 'A' handshapes (with thumbs pointing up) moving up the chest to sign 'live'. Both variations are widely understood across North America.
Examples Using "Lived" in a Sentence
1

I lived in California for two years.

Start by establishing the past tense with the sign for 'PAST', then sign 'I', 'LIVE', 'CALIFORNIA', 'TWO', 'YEARS'.

2

My grandmother lived a long time.

Sign 'MY', 'GRANDMOTHER', 'LIVE', 'LONG-TIME'. The past tense is often implied by the context of the conversation, but you can add 'PAST' at the beginning to be clear.

3

Where have you lived?

Sign 'PAST', 'YOU', 'LIVE', 'WHERE', making sure to furrow your eyebrows at the end to indicate a 'wh-' question.

Frequently Asked Questions
How do I show that 'lived' is in the past tense?

ASL doesn't use suffixes like '-ed'. To show past tense, you establish the timeframe at the beginning of your sentence using a sign like 'PAST' or 'BEFORE', and then use the standard sign for 'LIVE'.

Is the sign for 'live' the same as 'life'?

Yes, the sign using the 'L' handshapes moving up the chest is commonly used for both 'live' and 'life'. The context of your sentence will tell the viewer which concept you mean.

Can I use 'A' handshapes instead of 'L' handshapes?

Yes, using 'A' handshapes moving up the chest is another very common and accepted way to sign 'live'. However, the 'L' handshape version shown here is popular and clearly distinguishes 'live' from 'survive' or 'address'.

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