How to Sign "Sister"
To make the sign sister, take both your hands in the horizontal L handshape, start your dominant hand at your jaw and then move it to the top of your non dominant hand.
Examples Using "Sister" in a Sentence
1
My sister is tall.
Point to yourself for 'my', sign 'sister' by bringing your dominant horizontal 'L' hand from your jaw down to rest on your non-dominant hand, then sign 'tall' by moving your dominant hand upward.
2
Do you have a sister?
Point to the person for 'you', sign 'have', then sign 'sister' using the jaw-to-hand motion with your 'L' handshapes. Remember to raise your eyebrows at the end to indicate a yes/no question.
3
I love my sister.
Point to yourself, cross your arms over your chest for 'love', point to yourself again for 'my', and finally sign 'sister' by bringing your dominant 'L' hand from your jaw down to your non-dominant hand.
How to Sign "Sister"
To make the sign sister, take both your hands in the horizontal L handshape, start your dominant hand at your jaw and then move it to the top of your non dominant hand.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
The sign for 'sister' is a compound of two concepts. It combines the female location marker (the jaw or chin area, historically related to where women tied bonnet strings) with a motion indicating 'same' or 'equal'. By starting at the jawline and bringing your hands together, you are visually expressing 'female' and 'same family' or 'sibling'.
Signing Tips
To keep your sign clear, make sure your non-dominant hand stays steady in front of you while your dominant hand does the moving. The horizontal 'L' handshape means your index finger points forward and your thumb points up. Remember that female signs typically originate from the lower half of the face, which is why this sign starts at your jawline.
Common Mistakes
A frequent mistake is starting the sign too high on the face, like at the forehead. Remember that signs for female family members start at the chin or jawline, while male signs start at the forehead. Another common error is using a simple '1' handshape instead of the horizontal 'L' handshape where the thumb is also extended.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "Sister" in a Sentence
1My sister is tall.
Point to yourself for 'my', sign 'sister' by bringing your dominant horizontal 'L' hand from your jaw down to rest on your non-dominant hand, then sign 'tall' by moving your dominant hand upward.
2Do you have a sister?
Point to the person for 'you', sign 'have', then sign 'sister' using the jaw-to-hand motion with your 'L' handshapes. Remember to raise your eyebrows at the end to indicate a yes/no question.
3I love my sister.
Point to yourself, cross your arms over your chest for 'love', point to yourself again for 'my', and finally sign 'sister' by bringing your dominant 'L' hand from your jaw down to your non-dominant hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the sign for sister start at the jaw?
In ASL, gender is often indicated by location on the face. Signs for female family members, like mother, aunt, and sister, originate at the lower half of the face (chin or jaw). Male signs, like brother or father, start at the forehead.
Do I need to physically touch my jaw, or just hover near it?
You can lightly touch your thumb to your jawline when starting the sign, or just hover very close to it. The most important part is establishing the starting location at the jaw before bringing your dominant hand down to your non-dominant hand.
What exactly does a 'horizontal L handshape' look like?
Make an 'L' with your hand by extending your index finger and thumb while curling your other three fingers into your palm. Then, position your hand so your index finger points forward away from your body, and your thumb points upward.
ASL is a beautiful, expressive language. Practice regularly and have fun!