ASL Dictionary Letter C

Select a word below to see its definition.
A word link next to its definition goes to the animated sign for that word. If it is not a link, then no animated sign is available for that word.
The up arrows in the left column return you to the word selector.
Please wait for the page to fully load before attempting to go directly to a word from the word selector. Reload the page if the links do not work properly.

Cafeteria

The right 'C'

hand is placed at the left corner of the mouth and moves over to the right corner.

Cake

The fingertips of the right '5'

hand are placed in the upturned left palm. The right rises slowly an inch or two above the left.

Calculator

The left open hand, palm up, represents the keyboard. The index or middle finger of the right hand taps in numbers at random. The right thumb and index are then drawn down the left palm, outlining the shape of the calculator.

Calendar

The right 'C'

hand, palm facing left, moves up the left palm, over the fingertips, and down the back of the hand.

Call
(shout)

The cupped right hand is held against the right cheek. The mouth is slightly open.

Calm

The open hands are crossed before the mouth, the right palm facing left, left facing right. Then both hands, held palms down, move down from the mouth, curving outward to either side of the body.

Candy

The right index finger, pointing left, is drawn across the lips from left to right.

Capital
(letter)

The right index and thumb, forming a "C"

, are held far apart.

Car
(automobile)

The hands grasp an imaginary steering wheel and manipulate it.

Care

The 'K'

hands are crossed, the right above the left, little finger edges down. In this position they describe a small clockwise circle in front of the chest.

Carry

The open hands are held palms up before the chest on the right side of the body. Describing an arc, they move up and forward in unison.

Cat

The thumbs and index fingers of both hands stroke an imaginary pair of whiskers at either side of the face.

Catch

Both hands go through the motions of catching a ball.

Ceiling

Both hands are held palms down above the head, index fingers side by side. The arms are separated while the signer looks up.

Cent

The right index finger touches the right temple and moves up and away quickly. This is "one cent". For two cents, the '2'

hand is used, etcetera.

Chair

The extended right index and middle fingers are draped across the back of the same two fingers of the downturned left hand. The hands then move straight downward a short distance.

Change
(an occurrance)

Both 'A'

hands, thumbs up, are held before the chest, several inches apart. The left hand is pivoted over so that its thumb points to the right. Simultaneously, the right hand is moved up and over the left, describing a small arc, with its thumb pointing to the left.

Cheese

The base of the downturned right hand is pressed against the base of the upturned left hand, and the two rotate back and forth against each other.

Child

The downturned right palm is extended before the body, as if resting on a child's head.

Chocolate

The right 'C'

hand makes a counterclockwise circle on the downturned left hand.

City

The fingertips of both hands are joined, the hands and arms forming a pyramid. The fingertips separate and rejoin a number of times. Both arms may move a bit from left to right each time the fingertips separate and rejoin.

Clean
(adjective)

The right hand slowly wipes the upturned left hand, from wrist to fingertips.

Clock

The signer taps the top of the wrist, indicating a wrist watch. The index fingers and thumbs are then used to form a pair of "C"'s and an imaginary clock is held up, as if hanging it on a wall or placing it on a shelf.

Close
(shut)
(near)

Bring both flat hands together from the sides with palms facing forward.

Closet

The right curved index finger is repeatedly hung over the extended left index finger, starting at the lower knuckle and moving successively to the fingertip.

Clothes

With fingertips resting on the chest, both hands move down simultaneously. The action is repeated.

Coat
(garment)

The tips of the 'A'

thumbs outline the lapels of the coat.

Coffee

The right 'S'

hand makes a counterclockwise circular movement over the left 'S' hand.

Cold
(chilly, frigid)

Hold up both 'S'

hands in front of the chest and shake them.

Color

The fingertips of the right '5'

hand, palm facing the body, are placed against the chin and wiggle back and forth.

Come

Point both index fingers toward each other and rotate them around each other while moving them towards the body.

Comfort (able)

Each downturned open hand alternately strokes the back of the other, moving forward from wrist to fingers.

Complain
(complaint)

The curved fingers of the right hand are thrust forcefully into the chest.

Computer

The thumb of the right 'C'

hand is placed on the back of the left hand and moves up the left arm in an arc.

Congratulate

The hands are clasped together in front of the face and are shaken vigorously back and forth. The signer smiles.

Cook
(verb)

The open right hand rests on the upturned left palm. The right hand flips over and comes to rest with its back on the left palm. (The action of turning over a pancake.)

Cook
(noun)

Both open hands, palms facing each other, move down the sides of the body, tracing its outline to the hips.

The right hand, in the 'C'

position, palm down, is placed into the open left palm. It then rises a bit, swings or twists around a little, and in this new position is placed again in the open left palm.

Copy

The right fingers and thumb close together and move into the upturned, open left hand, as if taking something from one place to another.

Correct
(adjective-
"You are right!")

The right index finger, held above the left index finger, comes down rather forcefully so that the bottom of the right hand comes to rest on top of the left thumb joint.

Count

The thumbtip and index fingertips of the right 'F'

hand move up along the palm of the open left hand, which is held facing right with fingers facing up.

Cowboy

Using both 'L'

hands, the signer waves them forward and back repeatedly.

Crash
(collision)

The fists come together with force.

Credit card

The left hand is held palm up. The right hand, closed in a fist, is placed with the edge of the little finger on the left palm. The right hand moves back and forth.

Crowd

The downturned claw hand moves straight forward.

Cry

Both index fingers, in the 'D'

position, move down the cheek, either once or several times. Sometimes only one finger is used.