ASL Dictionary Letter M

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Machine
(engine, motor)

With the knuckles of both hands interlocked, the hands pivot up and down, imitating the meshing of gears.

Mail
(noun)

The right thumb is placed on the tongue, and is then pressed into the open left palm.

Mail
(verb)

The right thumbtip is licked and placed against the upturned left palm. The right hand, palm out and fingers touching thumb, is then thrown forward, opening into the '5'

position, palm out.

Maintain

The 'K'

hands are crossed, the right above the left, little finger edges down. In this position the hands are moved up and down a short distance.

Make
(create, produce)

The right 'S'

hand, palm facing left, is placed on top of its left counterpart, whose palm faces right. The hands are twisted back and forth, a striking each other slightly after each twist.

Make love

The 'S'

hands, palms facing, are crossed at the wrist. They swing up and down while the wrists remain in contact.

Male
(man)

Move the right hand to the forehead as though grabbing an imaginary cap brim between the fingers and thumb, then move it forward a short distance.

Manage

The 'A'

hands, palms facing, move alternately back and forth, as if grasping and manipulating reins. The left 'A' hand, still in position, swings over so that its palm now faces down. The right hand opens to the '5'

position, palm down, and swings over the left which moves slightly to the right.

Many

The upturned 'S'

hands are thrown up, opening into the '5'

position, palms up. This may be repeated.

Marble

The signer uses the thumb to flick a marble ball forward. The action is repeated. This sign is used for both the ball and stone used in building and sculpture.

Marriage

The hands are clasped together, the right on top of the left.

Mature

The index finger edge of the right 'M'

hand, palm facing down, moves up the outstretched upright left palm.

Maximum

Both hands, in the 'M'

position, are held palms down, fingertips touching. The right hand rises above the left.

May
(maybe, might, possibly, perhaps, probably)

The upturned open hands move alternately up and down.

May
(can, capable, possible)

Both 'A'

hands, held palms down, move down in unison a short distance before the chest.

May
(allow, grant, let, permit)

Both hands, palms facing and fingers pointing away from the body, are held at chest level, almost a foot apart. With an upward movement, using their wrists as pivots, the hands sweep up until the fingers point almost straight up.

Mayonnaise

The downturned right 'M'

hand "spreads" the mayonnaise on the upturned left palm.

The signer points to himself.

Meal
(eat, feed, food)

The closed right hand goes through the natural motion of placing food in the mouth. This movement is repeated.

Mean
(cruel)

Both 'A'

or 'X'

hands are held before the chest, the right above the left. The right hand strikes down and out, hitting the left thumb and knuckles with force.

Mean
(intend, purpose, significance)

The right index finger touches the middle of the forehead. The tips of the right 'V'

hand, palm down, are then thrust into the upturned left palm. The right 'V' hand is then re-thrust into the upturned left palm, with right palm now facing the body.

Meantime

Both 'D'

hands, palms down, move forward in unison, away from the body. They may move straight forward or may follow a slight upward arc.

Meat

The right index finger and thumb squeeze the fleshy part of the open left hand, between thumb and index finger.

Medicine

The ball of the middle fingertip of the right '5'

hand describes a small counterclockwise circle in the upturned left palm.

Meet

Both 'D'

hands, palms facing each other, are brought together.

Meeting
(gathering)

Both '5'

hands, palms facing, are held with fingers pointing out from the body. With a sweeping motion they are brought in toward the chest, and all fingertips come together. This is repeated.

Melt

The thumbs rub slowly across the fingertips of the upturned hands, from the little fingers to the index fingers, and then continue to the 'A'

position, palms up.

Member

The right 'M'

hand, palm facing the body and fingers pointing left, moves from the left shoulder to the right.

Memorial

The right 'M'

hand, positioned near the right temple, moves straight back over the shoulder.

Memorize

The open right hand is placed on the forehead. Then as it is removed straight forward, it is clenched into a fist.

Mend

The right 'S'

hand, palm facing left, is placed on top of its left counterpart, whose palm faced right. The hands are twisted back and forth, striking each other slightly after each twist.

Me too

The right 'Y'

hand, palm facing left, is moved alternately toward and away from the body.

Microphone

The signer mimes holding a microphone in front of the face.

Middle

The downturned right fingers describe a small clockwise circle and come to rest in the center of the upturned left palm.

Midnight

The right 'B'

hand is held fingers pointing straight down and palm facing left. The left hand, representing the horizon, is held open and fingers together, palm down, its little finger edge resting against the right arm near the crook of the elbow.

Milk

Both hands, alternately grasping and releasing imaginary teats, move alternately up and down before the body.

Minute

The right 'D'

hand is held with its index finger edge against the palm of the left '5'

hand, which faces right. The right index finger moves forward in a short arc.

Missing

The extended right index finger strikes against the downturned middle finger of the left hand, which is held with palm down and other fingers pointing right.

Mistake

The right 'Y'

hand, palm facing body, is brought up to the chin.

Misunderstand

The right 'V'

hand is positioned with index and middle fingers touching the right side of the forehead. The hand swings around so that the palm now faces out, with the two fingers still on the forehead.

Mix
(noun & verb)

The downturned right hand is positioned above the upturned left. The fingers of both are curved. Both hands move in opposite horizontal circles.

Modern

With both hands held palm up before the body, the right hand sweeps in an arc into the left, and continues up a bit.

Money
(funds)

The thumb rubs over the index and middle fingers of the upturned hand, as if fingering money.

Month

The extended right index finger moves down along the upturned, extended left index finger.

Moon

The right 'C'

hand indicates the face of the moon.

Touch the fingertips of both 'and' hands before the chest with palms facing down.

Morning

The little finger edge of the left hand rests in the crook of the right elbow. The left arm, held horizontally, represents the horizon. The open right hand, fingers together and pointing up, with palm facing the body, rises slowly to an almost upright angle.

Mother
(mom)

The thumb of the right '5'

hand rests on the right cheek or the right chin.

Move

The downturned hands, fingers touching their respective thumbs, move in unison from left to right.

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