ASL Family Signs: Learn Them With Video

Family signs in American Sign Language follow a pattern that makes them easier to learn together. Mom is signed at the chin and dad at the forehead, with the same open handshape. Grandma and grandpa start from mom and dad and add two small arcs forward. Aunt and uncle use the first letter of the word, A or U, near the same places.

Each sign below has a short looping video by a Deaf, fluent ASL signer. Play it, slow it to half speed, and watch where the hand is placed: the chin or the forehead is often the only difference between two family signs. This group follows the family category in the AISA School app, and a new page is added as each sign is filmed and checked.

Learn them in pairs, mom and dad, grandma and grandpa, aunt and uncle, and you will remember all six. When you are ready, practice in AISA School with your camera and get instant feedback on your signing.

The signs

A Deaf signer signs AUNT in ASL

Aunt

A Deaf signer signs DAD in ASL

Dad

A Deaf signer signs GRANDMA in ASL

Grandma

A Deaf signer signs GRANDPA in ASL

Grandpa

A Deaf signer signs MOM in ASL

Mom

A Deaf signer signs UNCLE in ASL

Uncle

A 5 minute practice plan

  1. Minute 1: watch mom and dad at half speed and notice the chin and forehead.

  2. Minute 2: sign grandma and grandpa, adding the two arcs to mom and dad.

  3. Minute 3: sign aunt and uncle, checking the A and U handshapes.

  4. Minute 4: sign all six in a random order without looking.

  5. Minute 5: practice one sign in AISA School with your camera and get instant feedback.

Practice these signs in AISA School

Start free. Sign in front of your camera and get instant feedback on your signing.

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