Signs for COFFEE

ASL sign for COFFEE
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Definition: A drink made from the roasted and ground beanlike seeds of a tropical shrub, served hot.

Pronunciation (sign description): Dominant horizontal "S" (handshape), palm in/leftward (orientation), the bottom part in contact with top of the non-dominant "S" (location), moves in horizontally circular motion counterclockwise while the non-dominant remains stationary (movement).

Learner tip: Don't confuse this production with MAKE. It's a common mistake for ASL beginners.

Related signs: coffee bean.

Usage/Grammar

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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 COFFEE

ASL digit artistically written and contributed by Adrean Clark in the ASLwrite community, 2017.

Deaf Culture and tidbits

Etymology

A possible origin of the ASL sign PEPPER by Lyn J. Wiley's personal theory: "Mimes the action of cranking the handle of an old-fashioned coffee-bean grinder (which were used before the advent of commercially available ground coffee beans)." (via email, May 2015) She is not alone in this guess.

Deaf Culture

A Deaf-owned business couple runs a coffee cafe, Bravo Caffè, for last five years in Taipei, Taiwan! -- Source: Seek the World, March 2020.

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