FAMOUS in sign language

ASL sign for FAMOUS

ASL sign for FAMOUS

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

Definition: known or recognized by very many people.

Pronunciation (sign description): Two "X" or clawed "1", palms facing each other, tips of forefinger in contact with sides of chin, both move outward in a double arc motion.

We Deaf signers sometimes inflect this ASL word to variants to convey a gradient of meanings such as "very famous", "infamous" with intonation, and few others.

Vocabulary

Synonyms: CELEBRATED, FAMED, POPULAR, WELL-KNOWN, DISTINGUISHED, RENOWNED.

Opposite: UNKNOWN.

Few examples of famous Deaf people: Lauren Ridloff, CJ Jones, Laurent CLERC, Paddy LADD, Marlee MATLIN, ...

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 FAMOUS

Written ASL word for FAMOUS (2021). The curved line represents the chin. Above is the movement. Below is the two-handed claw-1 handshape.

ASL written for FAMOUS

Same except for the handshape which is index finger. Image contributed by Todd Hicks the ASLwrite community, 2017.

Remember that the digit is written from the signer's perspective.

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Search Tips and Pointers

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Alphabetical letters: It's useful for 1) a single-letter word (such as A, B, etc.) and 2) very short words (e.g. "to", "he", etc.) to narrow down the words and pages in the list.

For best result, enter a short word in the search box, then select the alphetical letter (and page number if needed), and click on the blue link.

Screenshot of dictionary search with notes
Screenshot of the search dictionary

Don't forget to click "All" back when you search another word with a different initial letter.

If you cannot find (perhaps overlook) a word but you can still see a list of links, then keep looking until the links disappear! Sharpening your eye or maybe refine your alphabetical index skill. :)

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ASL has its own grammar and structure in sentences that works differently from English. For plurals, verb inflections, word order, etc., learn grammar in the "ASL Learn" section. For search in the dictionary, use the present-time verbs and base words. If you look for "said", look up the word "say". Likewise, if you look for an adjective word, try the noun or vice versa. E.g. The ASL signs for French and France are the same. If you look for a plural word, use a singular word.