ASL LOVE
🤟 How to sign
To sign "LAUGH" in American Sign Language (ASL), use both hands with index fingers extended, starting at the corners of your mouth and moving upward in a bouncing motion while showing a genuine laughing facial expression.
📖 Word definition
To make the spontaneous sounds and movements of the face and body that are the instinctive expressions of lively amusement and sometimes also of contempt or derision.
🎯 Detailed Hand Movement Guide
- Hand Shape: Both hands in "1" handshape (index finger extended, other fingers closed).
- Starting Position: Index fingers positioned at the corners of your mouth.
- Movement: Move both hands upward in small bouncing motions.
- Path: Short, repeated upward movements showing the rhythm of laughter.
- Hand Orientation: Index fingers point toward the face throughout the sign.
- Facial Expression: Genuine laughing expression with smile and possibly squinted eyes.
⚠️ Common Mistakes & What to Avoid
❌ Flat expression: Must show genuine laughing facial expression.
❌ Wrong handshape: Use index finger only, not open hands.
❌ No bouncing motion: Movement should be rhythmic and bouncy like laughter.
❌ Too far from face: Keep fingers close to corners of mouth.
💬 Common Sentence Examples
"She laughs loudly."
How to sign: Sign "she" (point to female person) → sign "laugh" (bouncing index fingers at mouth corners) → sign "loud" (index finger at ear, then hands spread wide).
"We laugh together."
How to sign: Sign "we" (index finger points to self then sweeps to include others) → sign "laugh" → sign "together" (both A hands come together).
"The joke made me laugh."
How to sign: Sign "joke" (J hand brushes off nose twice) → sign "made" (S hands stack and twist) → sign "me" (point to self) → sign "laugh".