Video From ASL LOVE
🤟 How to sign
To sign "Caterpillar" in American Sign Language (ASL), use your index finger to show the crawling motion of a caterpillar moving along your opposite arm.
📖 Word definition
The larva of a butterfly or moth, having a segmented wormlike body with legs.
🎯 Detailed Hand Movement Guide
- Non-dominant Arm: Extend horizontally as the "branch".
- Dominant Hand: Make a "1" handshape (index finger extended).
- Starting Position: Place index finger at the wrist of opposite arm.
- Movement: "Crawl" finger up the arm with inchworm motion.
- Motion Style: Bend and straighten finger repeatedly while moving.
- Facial Expression: Neutral or slightly playful.
⚠️ Common Mistakes & What to Avoid
❌ Sliding motion: Use crawling motion, not smooth sliding.
❌ Too fast: Caterpillars move slowly - show this in your sign.
❌ Wrong direction: Move from wrist toward elbow, not reverse.
❌ Forgetting the base arm: Need the non-dominant arm as the surface.
💬 Common Sentence Examples
"The caterpillar is eating leaves."
How to sign: Sign "caterpillar" → sign "eat" (bring fingers to mouth repeatedly) → sign "leaves" (hand waves like leaf).
"Caterpillar becomes butterfly."
How to sign: Sign "caterpillar" → sign "become/change" (twist fists) → sign "butterfly" (cross thumbs, flutter fingers).
"Look at the caterpillar!"
How to sign: Sign "look" (V hand from eyes pointing) → sign "caterpillar" with excited expression.