Calculator
Handshape: 5 Hand (dominant) and Open Hand (nondominant)
Memory Aide: tapping number keys on a calculator
Example of sentence usage: She solved the equation on her calculator.
Synonyms to start matching your sign to English now: adding machine, tabulator
Call (phone, telephone)
Handshape: Y Hand
Memory Aide: holding a telephone to your ear
Example of sentence usage: She could not take the call and will call back.
Synonyms to start matching your sign to English now: phone call, ring/give a ring
Call (call out, cry out, holler, yell)
Handshape: C Hands
Memory Aide: hands held at the mouth helping your voice to carry
Example of sentence usage: He called out for help.
Synonyms to start matching your sign to English now: hoot, howl, scream, shout
Calm (calm down, relax)
Handshape: 5 Hands
Memory Aide: the action of calming someone down with your hands
Example of sentence usage: Remain calm in an emergency.
Synonyms to start matching your sign to English now: take it easy
Idiomatic expressions: chill out, keep cool, simmer down
Camera
Handshape: Modified C Hands
Memory Aide: clicking the shutter on a camera
Example of sentence usage: He took a photograph with his camera.
Synonyms to start matching your sign to English now: photograph, snap a picture,
take a photo/picture
Can Opener
Handshape: C Hand (nondominant) and 10 Hand (dominant)
Memory Aide: holding a can and opening it
Example of sentence usage: He used a can opener to open the beans.
Canoe (canoeing, oar)
Handshape: S Hands
Memory Aide: holding an oar to paddle a canoe
Example of sentence usage: They brought their canoe to the river.
Synonyms to start matching your sign to English now: paddle/paddling
Canteen
Handshape: Flattened C Hands
Memory Aide: holding a canteen, removing the cap and taking a drink
Example of sentence usage: She took a drink from her canteen.
Cap
Handshape: Flattened O Hand
Memory Aide: holding a baseball cap by the visor and pulling it down on your head
Example of sentence usage: Her cap covered her messy hair.
Synonyms to start matching your sign to English now: hat
Car (automobile, drive)
Handshape: S Hands
Memory Aide: steering a car
Example of sentence usage: She drove the car.
Synonyms to start matching your sign to English now: auto, motorcar, motor vehicle,
vehicle
Cards (play cards)
Handshape: A Hands
Memory Aide: holding a deck of cards and dealing them
Example of sentence usage: I like card games.
Synonyms to start matching your sign to English now: dealing cards
Cart
Handshape: S Hands
Memory Aide: pushing a shopping cart
Example of sentence usage: He put the groceries in the shopping cart and pushed it
to his car.
Synonyms to start matching your sign to English now: handcart, pushcart
Consider using this sign for: stroller
Cast (dump, pitch, throw, throw away, toss)
Handshape: S Hand changes to the 5 Hand
Memory Aide: casting away an object
Example of sentence usage: She cast a stone, hoping to get his attention.
Synonyms to start matching your sign to English now: discard, fling, hurl, launch
Catch
Handshape: 5 Hands change to Curved 5 Hands
Memory Aide: catching a football and pulling it in
Example of sentence usage: Catch the ball!
Chilly (cold, frigid, shiver, winter)
Handshape: S Hands
Memory Aide: shaking from chilly weather
Example of sentence usage: It was a chilly night, so we lit a fire.
Synonyms to start matching your sign to English now: wintry
Choke
Handshape: C hand
Memory Aide: cupping your throat
Example of sentence usage: Cut the meat into small pieces so that you will not
choke on it.
Synonyms to start matching your sign to English now: gag
Clam
Handshape: Bent Hands
Memory Aide: a clam opening and closing
Example of sentence usage: You can find a clam buried in the sand.
Clap (applaud, applause)
Handshape: Open Hands
Memory Aide: clapping your hands
Example of sentence usage: Clap your hands.
Synonyms to start matching your sign to English now: acclaim, accolade, ovation
Clarinet
Handshape: 5 Hands
Memory Aide: holding a clarinet and pressing the keys
Example of sentence usage: He played the clarinet in the orchestra.
Climb (climb with Hands, ladder)
Handshape: Curved 5 Hands
Memory Aide: the movement of your hands when you climb
Example of sentence usage: He reached the top by climbing with his hands.
Synonyms to start matching your sign to English now: ascend/climb up (with hands)
Clippers (nail clippers)
Handshape: A Hand (dominant) and 5 Hand (nondominant)
Memory Aide: the action of nail clippers opening and closing as you cut your nails
Example of sentence usage: The salon disinfects the clippers.
Cocktail (drink)
Handshape: Modified C Hand
Memory Aide: drinking from a shot glass
Example of sentence usage: The waiter brought him a cocktail with an umbrella.
Synonyms to start matching your sign to English now: booze, libation, nightcap, shot
Cold (blow nose, head cold)
Handshape: A Hand
Memory Aide: the action of blowing your nose
Example of sentence usage: Mom says chicken noodle soup is the best cure for a
cold.
Cold (chilly, frigid, shiver, winter)
Handshape: S Hands
Memory Aide: shaking from cold weather
Example of sentence usage: She put on her jacket because it was cold outside.
Synonyms to start matching your sign to English now: wintry
Cologne (perfume)
Handshape: Index Finger Hand
Memory Aide: spraying on cologne
Example of sentence usage: His cologne smells nice.
Synonyms to start matching your sign to English now: eau de cologne, eau de
toilette, fragrance, spray on cologne
Note: adapt the sign to use it for spraying on aftershave
Comb
Handshape: Curved 5 Hand
Memory Aide: using a comb
Example of sentence usage: He combed his hair.
Come In (come on)
Handshape: Open Hand
Memory Aide: motioning someone to come in
Example of sentence usage: She told her visitors to come in and get out of the cold.
Come On (beckon, recruit)
Handshape: Index Finger Hand
Memory Aide: motioning someone to come on closer
Example of sentence usage: Come on closer and tell me what happened.
Come On (come in)
Handshape: Open Hand
Memory Aide: motioning someone to come on in
Example of sentence usage: Come on, what are you waiting for?
Synonyms to start matching your sign to English now: Let’s go!
Comma (apostrophe)
Handshape: Index Finger Hand
Memory Aide: drawing a comma
Example of sentence usage: We learned in grammar class, when to use a comma.
Complex (blend, complicate, confuse, disorder, mix, scramble, stir)
Handshape: Curved 5 Hands
Memory Aide: hands showing how things can get mixed up and complex
Example of sentence usage: Things were not simple anymore, they had become
complex.
Synonyms to start matching your sign to English now: confound, disarrangement,
garble, intermix, intermingle, muddle
Complicate (blend, complex, confuse, disorder, mix, scramble, stir)
Handshape: Curved 5 Hands
Memory Aide: hands showing how things can get mixed up, therefore complicated
Example of sentence usage: Mixing business and pleasure can complicate matters.
Synonyms to start matching your sign to English now: confound, disarrangement,
garble, intermix, intermingle, muddle
Compliment
Handshape: Open Hands
Memory Aide: softly clapping your hands with approval
Example of sentence usage: I compliment you on your pretty dress
Synonyms to start matching your sign to English now: acclamation, commend,
praise
Confuse (blend, complex, complicate, disorder, mix, scramble, stir)
Handshape: Curved 5 Hands
Memory Aide: hands showing how things can get mixed up, therefore confusing
Example of sentence usage: The points made by the speaker confused him, rather
than clarified the issue.
Synonyms to start matching your sign to English now: confound, disarrangement,
garble, intermix, intermingle, muddle
Congratulations (congratulate)
Handshape: Curved Hands
Memory Aide: shaking your clasped hands together in congratulations
Example of sentence usage: Congratulations on your graduation.
Synonyms to start matching your sign to English now: bravo, congrats, felicitations,
kudos
Contact Lens
Handshape: bent middle finger of the 5 Hand
Memory Aide: placing a contact lens on your eye
Example of sentence usage: He put the contact lens in his eye.
Cookie (biscuit)
Handshape: C Hand (dominant) and Open Hand (nondominant)
Memory Aide: a cookie cutter shaping cookies on dough
Example of sentence usage: He baked chocolate chip cookies.
Corn
Handshape: Flattened C Hands
Memory Aide: holding and rotating an ear of corn
Example of sentence usage: They ate corn from the farm.
Synonyms to start matching your sign to English now: corn on the cob, ear of corn
Cosmetics (make-up, makeup)
Handshape: Flattened O Hands
Memory Aide: applying cosmetics
Example of sentence usage: She feels prettier when she wears cosmetics.
Cover One’s Mouth (muffle)
Handshape: C Hand
Memory Aide: covering your mouth
Example of sentence usage: Cover your mouth when you yawn.
Crazy (crazy about), nuts (slang), wacky (slang)
Handshape: Index Finger Hand
Memory Aide: the mind is going in circles
Example of sentence usage: The kids were driving him crazy!
Synonyms to start matching your sign to English now: insane, kooky, nutty, screwy
Idiomatic expressions: out to lunch
Crochet
Handshape: Index Fingers Hands (dominant Index Finger Hand curls to an X Hand)
Memory Aide: holding a crochet hook and hooking the yarn
Example of sentence usage: He learned to crochet from his grandmother.
Cry Out (call, call out, holler, yell)
Handshape: C Hands
Memory Aide: hands held at the mouth helping your voice to carry
Example of sentence usage: She cried out for help.
Synonyms to start matching your sign to English now: hoot, howl, scream, shout
Cub Scout (Brownies)
Handshape: H Hand
Memory Aide: a Cub Scout salute
Example of sentence usage: Cub Scouts earn badges.
Synonyms to start matching your sign to English now: Scout
Cymbal
Handshape: A Hands
Memory Aide: cymbals striking
Example of sentence usage: Banging cymbals make a loud noise.
