To sign 'zoo', you will simply fingerspell the word. Start by holding your dominant hand up near your shoulder and use your index finger to trace the letter 'Z' in the air. Immediately after tracing the 'Z', form the letter 'O' with your hand. To indicate the second 'O', do not open and close your hand; instead, keep the 'O' handshape and smoothly slide your hand slightly outward to the side. This fluid motion clearly spells out Z-O-O.
To sign this, you would sign 'tomorrow', then point to yourself and others for 'we', sign 'go', and finally fingerspell Z-O-O. Setting up the time first is a common ASL sentence structure.
Start by signing 'zoo' (fingerspelling Z-O-O) to establish the location, then sign 'my', 'favorite', 'animal', and finish with the sign for 'elephant'. This establishes the topic first before describing what you like there.
Begin by signing 'today' to establish the timeframe. Next, fingerspell Z-O-O to establish the subject, and finally use the sign for 'closed' by bringing both hands together to show the doors shutting.
To sign this, you would sign 'tomorrow', then point to yourself and others for 'we', sign 'go', and finally fingerspell Z-O-O. Setting up the time first is a common ASL sentence structure.
Start by signing 'zoo' (fingerspelling Z-O-O) to establish the location, then sign 'my', 'favorite', 'animal', and finish with the sign for 'elephant'. This establishes the topic first before describing what you like there.
Begin by signing 'today' to establish the timeframe. Next, fingerspell Z-O-O to establish the subject, and finally use the sign for 'closed' by bringing both hands together to show the doors shutting.
In American Sign Language, 'zoo' is almost always fingerspelled. Because it is a very short, three-letter word, fingerspelling it is incredibly fast and efficient. There is no widely accepted conceptual sign for it, so spelling Z-O-O is the standard and most natural way to express it.
To show a double letter like the 'O' in zoo, you do not need to make the handshape twice. Instead, form the 'O' handshape once and smoothly slide your hand slightly outward, away from the center of your body. This slide universally indicates a doubled letter.
You should keep the 'Z' relatively small and contained. Draw it using just your wrist and index finger within your normal fingerspelling space, which is comfortably right in front of your dominant shoulder. Avoid using your whole arm to draw a massive letter.
