American Sign Language:  "brother"

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BROTHER:
This sign starts with either a modified "L" hand or "G" hand on the dominant hand and an "index finger" on the non-dominant hand.  Then the dominant hand moves downward while changing into an "index" finger handshape at the end of the sign.

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Here is a variation of the sign for "brother." This sign is made by first signing "male" or "boy" as if you were grabbing a cap.  Next, bring both index fingers together in front of you. The second half of this sign (two index fingers close together, pointing forward) is one of the less common variations of the sign for "SAME." 

BROTHER ("boy-same" variation) (not recommended)

Memory aid: BOY + SAME = BROTHER: Think of two boys from the same family.
 

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BROTHER (BOY-RIGHT variation)

 

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The sign for "brother-in-law" is a combination of the signs BROTHER and LAW.

 

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One of the more popular ways to sign "step-brother" is to combine the signs for SECOND-HAND (or "his/her-TURN") and "brother." This is not an insult. We use the "SECOND-HAND" sign since it is a way of saying that something is in the next series not the first.

STEP-BROTHER:

 

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Notes:
Other methods of indicating "step" (as in "step-brother") include fingerspelling S-T-E-P, or signing "false."  But I prefer to use the sign "false-brother" to mean "foster brother."
 

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See:   Brother and Sister

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