LION in sign language

Drawing of lion, age 7
(c) Drawing by Juli L.C. at age 7.

Ah, the mighty lion! The lion is one majestic and courageous creature, and definitely not someone you want to mess with, not even your feline furry friend.

ASL sign for LION

How to sign "lion" in American Sign Language (ASL)?

Meaning: A large, tawny-colored meat-eating animal of the cat family that has a tufted tail, and in the male a shaggy mane and that lives in Africa and southern Asia.

Pronunciation (production): Dominant claw-shaped (handshape), palm in with fingers pointing down (orientation) in front of the forehead (location), moves upward and backward across the top and back of the head (movement).

ASL storytelling

Watch the fable "The Lion and the Mouse" in ASL with English translation.

Baby signing LION

The video clip shows the 15 months old baby signing LION where there was one in the neighborhood. It's a statue. :)

Drawing of lion, age 7
(c) Drawing by ASL-speaking Juli L.C. at age 7.

Vocabulary

The big CATS are so tired of their ZOO that they badly need to get out on a road trip. Across the country, they stopped at all the best roadside attractions -- the fields of catnip. It was a WILD adventure, but they all agreed that the best part is to eat WILDLIFE and then stretch out in the sun in Savannah like the true big cats they were.

So if you ever visit the zoo and hear a cacophony of roars echoing through the air, you'll know who's behind it. Out of boredom, perhaps. The lion lets out a mighty ROAR, followed by the TIGER's ferocious growl, the LEOPARD's snarling yowl, and the JAGUAR's fierce hiss. With a roar so deafening it could make a rock star jealous.

The ruler of the ANIMAL kingdom, with a MANE so impressive it would put even the most stylish stars to disgrace and with sharp CLAWS and powerful jaws, this ferocious feline can take down prey with ease.

To bring some souvenir home from the zoo, you can buy a copy of the PAW print (with five holes in them as the lion's signature).

Language learning, language play, etc.

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Some word entries have one of some tidbits in this section, such as minimal pairs of sign words, rhymes, etc. usually related to or associated with its word entry.

Written ASL

[Note: ASL writing is not an official standard. This sign language writing remains in a state of open space to allow room for experiment, evolution, and improvement.]

ASL written for LION

ASL digit written and contributed by Todd Hicks in the ASLwrite community, 2017.

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