To sign 'nana', start with your dominant hand in an open '5' handshape, with your fingers spread apart. Place the tip of your thumb on your chin. Then, move your hand forward away from your chin in two small, bouncing arcs. This is the same sign commonly used for 'grandmother'.
Point to yourself, sign 'go', 'visit', 'my', and then sign 'nana' by bouncing your open hand forward from your chin.
Sign 'my', 'nana', 'love', and 'read'. Remember to keep your fingers spread in the '5' handshape for 'nana'.
Point to yourself, sign 'miss' (tapping your chin with an index finger), 'my', and then sign 'nana'.
Point to yourself, sign 'go', 'visit', 'my', and then sign 'nana' by bouncing your open hand forward from your chin.
Sign 'my', 'nana', 'love', and 'read'. Remember to keep your fingers spread in the '5' handshape for 'nana'.
Point to yourself, sign 'miss' (tapping your chin with an index finger), 'my', and then sign 'nana'.
Yes, in most cases, the exact same sign is used for 'nana', 'grandma', and 'grandmother'. They all use the open '5' handshape moving forward from the chin.
In ASL, the face is divided into gendered zones for family signs. The lower half of the face (chin and jawline) is used for female relatives, while the upper half (forehead) is used for male relatives.
You can do either! Moving the hand forward in one larger arc or two smaller bouncing arcs are both correct and widely accepted ways to sign 'nana' or 'grandmother'.
