homework asl dictionary

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Explore, discover, and learn sign language

Jump scroll to Sign of the Day ASL Dictionary Tutorial Search Fingerspelling Grammar Baby Talk New to ASL?

New to sign language? Scroll down to the "Beginner Guide" tab in the Learn section. Or, jumpstart to learning the first 100+ basic signs .

Look for a tutorial or help with your ASL courses, Deaf studies or homework? Filter a topic in the "Learn" tutorials . Back to school? Review ASL signs for classes.

From beginners to advanced learners, discover all you need for ASL learning. For fluent and native signers, explore and master ASL and bilingualism. This website/webapp HandSpeak® is a popular, go-to online resource for sign language and Deaf culture in North America for language learning, practice, tutorials and self-study for:

• college students and learners
• language and culture enthusiasts
• interpreters, homeschoolers
• parents of deaf children and deaf/hearing babies
• professionals
• deaf bilinguals and codas

Handwave! I'm Jolanta , the creator of this web app/site since 1995. Very long time, yes! It has been made with endless personal volunteer time, effort, and heart. I hope you will find this sign language resource helpful with your language learning in American Sign Language.

Get this web app for direct access with a quick tap.

Word Search

Filter : Enter a keyword in the filter field box to see a list of available words with the "All" selection. Click on the page number if needed. Click on the blue link to look up the word. For best result, enter a partial word to see variations of the word.

Alphabetical letters : It's useful for 1) a single-letter word (such as A, B, etc.) and 2) very short words (e.g. "to", "he", etc.) to narrow down the words and pages in the list.

Don't forget to click "All" back when you search another word with a different initial letter.

• Start with the First 100+ Signs
• What does the ASL sign mean? Reverse Dictionary

Topic/Tutorial Search

Browse tutorials and posts on sign language and Deaf culture.

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~~ Feeling lucky? ¯\__(°_o)__/¯ Random Word ~~

Sign of the Day

Guess what the ASL word mean? See English translation . Explore this word in the dictionary.

Fingerspelling of the Week 🔒

What does it say? Hover over to see the word . Take me to the page .

Try fingerspelling practice to improve your receptive skill. New to fingerspelling? Learn the ASL alphabet .

Kid Signing of the Week

The video shows a baby signing the ASL word TIRED in the early language acquisition (handshape, location, and movement).

Sentence of the Week 🔒

To get started for a new learner, learn how to sign "How are you?" .

Browse some more phrases and sentences that may give you some insights into how grammar, structure and meaning are constructed in ASL sign language and help you learn how to express them in ASL.

Story Video

If you're looking for a story that makes you cry or feel goose-bumps, here is the story Deaf or Dead .

ASL Numbers

Take a peek what the ASL number is: number .

Learn how to sign numbers 1 to 100 .

ASL Writing

Guess what the ASL written word mean? Take a peek . Take me to this word .

Disclaimer: Written digits of the ASL words are unofficial and they may evolve over time. The purpose is for exploration and discovery only.

Signed languages are distinct from spoken languages. For example, ASL and English are entirely independent languages, each with its own structure, grammar, vocabulary and other linguistic elements, including intonation (i.e. facial expression). In addition, sign languages encompass every linguistic feature found in spoken languages.

Random grammar tip :

When describing a geographical direction or a shape, use the signer's perspective. Describing basic shapes

Trivia Question

What is the name of Handspeak's cat?

Her name is Kibe, the head of Handspeak House. Fritzy is a foster cat who likes to live with us permanently. Get to know our furry companions .

"Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going." -- Rita Mae Brown

Native American Heritage Month

During this National Native American Heritage Month (U.S., we celebrate the culture and heritage of these remarkable Americans who deeply enrich the quality and character of our Nation. Each day features one of some notable Deaf Native Americans and Native American allies who bring richness, contributions, and achievements to the Deaf society.

Tristan Thunderbolt has been featured in several short films and performed in several theater shows. He is Deaf actor, hails from New Credit Indian Reservation in Ontario, Canada. He gives motivational speeches on disability empowerment and deafness at conferences and events, empowering Native Americans with disabilities to soar. He is a deaf graduate from Gallaudet University.

Manual alphabet

What is sign language.

Sign language is a natural, full-fledged language in visual-spatial modality. It has all the features of linguistics from phonology and morphology to syntax as found in spoken language. Signed languages are not a universal language ; sign languages, such as British Sign Language (BSL) and French Sign Language (LSF), are distinct languages throughout the world.

American Sign Language (ASL) is the primary language of Deaf people in Deaf communities and Deaf families across the United States and Canada. It's also a fast-growing. popular second language or foreign language for hearing people in North America. Like other languages, ASL has its regional variations .

Language learning

Bilingualism has a number of cognitive benefits. Find out what benefits are for learning sign language. In addition to the benefits of bilingualism, bi modalism and Deafhood also have some extra benefits.

Explore some ways on how to get started with learning sign language .

Deaf community and Deaf culture

Where there is language, there is culture; sign language and Deaf culture are inseparable. Learning sign language and Deaf culture comes with the process of allyship along with awareness toward appreciation and away from cultural appropriation and audism (alliteration, yay!).

Deaf community comprises Deaf people, codas (children of Deaf parents), hard-of-hearing signers, and hearing signers and allies.

Linguistics

Sign language has every linguistic feature from phonology and morphology to syntax as found in spoken language. Numerous studies show that signed languages and spoken languages are equal languages, despite different modalities (visual-spatial and vocal-auditory). They function in the same linguistic regions of the brain. Language acquisition from birth to kindergarten are on the similar timeline.

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Testimonials

The sign language site is one of few most reliable resources and references highly recommended by Deaf native signers, including ASL instructors.

"Even though I'm Deaf with ASL as my native language, I still use Handspeak a lot in the last few years for reference. I also frequently recommended this website to hearings/ASL students I met. It's amazing how you contributed so much, so I just want to let you know how much I appreciate that. -- Theo, 2020."

"This website is AWESOME! I always refer it to my students. -- Denise (Deaf ASL instructor), 2021"

"This website is a godsend. Your work is amazing and I just wanted to thank you. Without it, learning ASL would have been much harder. -- Le, 2021"

"I just wanted to let you know that you are the reason I've been getting A's in my ASL classes and to say thank you. I use your website multiple times a day, and it has fleshed out so much information about the language of ASL and the Deaf community. You have truly made a difference in my life!" -- Angie DiNardo, February 4, 2022.

Thank you Handspeak!! You were an invaluable resource for me during my interpreter education program. I came to the conclusion that your dictionary of signs were one of the best and I relied on it immensely.

"I have been struggling to figure out signs for my class. It was really beginning to wear down on me and I was getting nervous about how the rest of the semester will go. A problem that was haunting me was found in short order using the sign and contextual reference from the assignment. THANK YOU!!!! You have blessed me for sure! -- Nita"

"THANK YOU SO MUCH. This site is amazing. I am just learning ASL, and I keep this tab open on my computer and check in several times a day to form words and sentences. Very blessed for this incredible project of yours. -- A.S."

"Your website has helped me to learn ASL and about Deaf culture, both when I studied in University and now as I continue to practice and learn. I just wanted to express that I am so grateful for you and for handspeak.com- you are wonderful, thank you for creating this project!! -- Kat"

"Your website is a blessing! I often refer my ASL students to the tutorials on this site as an extracurricular resource when they needed help. -- a certified ASL instructor and Deaf native signer."

"... thank you for making such an important and useful resource for those of us on the path to fluency in the language and art of American Sign Language. Your Handspeak website has provided me with countless hours of invaluable insight and dare I say entertainment. You're a beautiful person, and your work is thoroughly appreciated." -- Patrick Ryan (Minnesota), 2015.

"Handspeak is such a great online ASL lexicon, and it is very helpful. My TA's recommended it over other online ASL dictionaries. Thank you again! -- J.Y., 2017"

"Our daughter is so much happier that she can tell us what she wants and needs. Much less crying, much more laughing! Thank you for this site, the best of its kind on the web."

"We use the site in our homeschooling, as a second language, for our 9-year-old child who does really well with homeschooling. He's exceptionally bright, very active, inquisitive and challenging. Your site has captured his interest and he is intrigued."

"I scuba dive, and being able to use sign language while diving would expand the experience greatly. -- L. Niles"