Learn how to sign "brother" in American Sign Language (ASL).
Meaning: a boy or man who has the same parents as another person; a male sibling.
Pronunciation (sign description): There is a few variants of the ASL sign "brother".
Variant 1: Thumb of dominant "10" hand is in contact with forehead while non-dominant horizontal forefinger is held space, with index finger pointing out, palm down. Dominant hand moves towards, transforming the "10" handshape into the "1" handshape where both forefingers meet at the edges of fingers, both palms down.
Variant 2: Thumb of dominant "L" handshape (also variant of "10" handshape) is in contact with forehead moves toward non-dominant horizontal forefinger, where bottom of dominant hand rests on top of non-dominant hand.
Etymology: This sign originally was derived from the compound BOY+SAME as it evolved into a few variants through the process of assimilation. Thus, the variant 1 is believed to be older and the variant 2 is the modern version.
Related signs: BROTHER-IN-LAW.
Meaning: a close male friend or companion.
Sign description glossed as: QUOTATION-MARK(2h) + BROTHER.
Related signs: FRIEND, COMRADE.
Meaning: a associate or member of a labor union or other organization such as fraternity.
Related signs: MEMBER, FRATERNITY.
Opposite: SISTER where the ASL word is the same except for the location where the upper head is for male and the lower head is for female.
More words: FAMILY.
First 100 words.
As you feel more comfortable with the first few hundreds of ASL signs, progress further with your vocabulary and learn signing more.