Signs for FAVORITE

Meaning: Preferred before all others of the same kind; a person or thing regarded with special favor or preference.

Learner tip: Not to be confused with similar signs PREFER and TASTE.

Very common usage, often glossed as "KISSFIST" and also sometimes glossed as "LOVE-it". Though it's an adjective in English, it's commonly used as a verb in ASL sentences. Both of them fit the concept, but they don't equate with the speech of parts in a sentence.

E.g. The phrase "Her favorite person..." shows in English whereas it works in ASL as THAT(IX2) PERSON/\ IX1-she KISS-FIST (verb)...

KISSFIST has multiple uses and meanings in contexts. It can be also used as an interjection. E.g. When a person makes a joke that is characteristic of the person's wit or humor, the listener might react KISSFIST. Typically used by native Deaf signers.

Regional variation in some regions in the U.S.

Regional and generational variations in some regions of Canada.

Deaf Culture and tidbits

Favorite Sign

For a warm-up vocabulary exercise one class in ASL 101 (beginners), I asked all students to think of their single favorite sign. Each student thought for a moment and signed their favorite sign, commonly such as "turtle" and "pop-corn". One time, a student boldly asked me in ASL (translated as), "What is your favorite sign?"

Oh! Thousands and thousands of signed words raced in my mind. Impossible to pick one. For the sake of answer, I poorly replied, "ASL". :)

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~~ Feeling lucky? ¯\(°_o)/¯ Random word ~~

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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.