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How To Sign Hungry
in American Sign Language.
ASL LOVE
🤟 How to sign
To sign "Hungry" in American Sign Language (ASL), use your dominant hand in a "C" handshape and draw it down from your throat to your chest, representing the feeling of emptiness in your stomach.
📖 Word definition
Feeling a need or desire for food; having an appetite or craving to eat.
🎯 Detailed Hand Movement Guide

  1. Hand Shape: Dominant hand in "C" handshape (curved fingers, thumb opposite).
  2. Starting Position: Place C hand at your throat/upper chest area.
  3. Movement: Draw the C hand straight down to your lower chest/stomach area.
  4. Path: Smooth downward motion along the center of your torso.
  5. Hand Orientation: Palm faces your body, C shape maintained throughout.
  6. Facial Expression: Show desire or need, slightly pursed lips or longing expression.

⚠️ Common Mistakes & What to Avoid

❌ Wrong handshape: Use "C" shape, not flat hand or claw.

❌ Wrong direction: Move down, not up or sideways.

❌ Too fast: Make deliberate motion showing the feeling.

❌ Wrong location: Start at throat, end at stomach area.

💬 Common Sentence Examples

"I am hungry."
How to sign: Point to yourself with index finger → sign "hungry" (C hand down chest) → optional: sign "me" (point to self again).
"Are you hungry?"
How to sign: Point to the person with index finger → sign "hungry" (C hand down chest) → raise eyebrows for question marker.
"The children are hungry."
How to sign: Sign "children" (pat head height with both hands) → sign "hungry" (C hand down chest) → use plural marker if needed.