How to Sign Mature

The short answer

There is no single sign for the English word "mature." American Sign Language (ASL), the main sign language in the US, translates meaning rather than words. The sign you need depends on what you mean. A grown-up person, emotional maturity, ripe fruit and "mature content" are different ideas, and a signer may express each one differently.

The material supplied for this guide did not include a verified description or video of any ASL sign for "mature." This guide therefore does not describe a handshape or movement. An unverified description could teach you a sign that is wrong or that means something else. The steps below show how to communicate the word now and how to confirm the correct sign.

Decide which meaning of "mature" you need

Pick the sense you need before you look up a sign. The word covers several separate concepts:

• Physically grown or adult, as in "a mature adult."
• Emotionally or behaviorally grown-up, as in "she acts very mature for her age."
• Ripe or fully developed, as in fruit, wine or cheese.
• Intended for adults, as in "mature content" or a "mature rating."
• Financial, as in a bond or savings account reaching its due date.

Each of these may use a different sign. Some may also be expressed with a short phrase instead of one sign. When you search a sign dictionary or ask a signer, give the sentence you want to say, not just the single word.

Communicate it right away: fingerspell M-A-T-U-R-E

Fingerspelling means spelling a word letter by letter with the manual alphabet. It is a normal part of ASL. Signers use it for names, technical terms and words whose sign is unknown or disputed. If you are mid-conversation and unsure of the sign, spelling M-A-T-U-R-E is an accepted fallback. Your conversation partner can then show you the sign they use.

Learn and confirm the sign

• 1. Confirm which sign language you need. ASL is used in the US and parts of Canada. It is not the same as British Sign Language or other national sign languages, and signs do not transfer between them.
• 2. Look up the meaning you chose in a reputable ASL dictionary that shows video, not only drawings or written descriptions. Movement and timing are hard to capture in text.
• 3. Note the five parts of the sign: handshape (the shape of the hand), palm orientation (which way the palm faces), location (where on or near the body it is made), movement, and non-manual markers (facial expression and body posture that carry meaning).
• 4. Compare more than one source. If they show different versions, you may be seeing regional variation or signs for different senses of the word.
• 5. Check with a Deaf signer or a qualified ASL instructor when you can. They can tell you which version is common in your area and whether it fits your sentence.

How to tell you have it right

Practice in a mirror or record a short video of yourself. Compare each of the five parts with the dictionary video. Matching the video only shows that you copied the form accurately. It does not show that the sign fits your intended meaning or matches local usage. The most reliable check is a fluent signer who understands you without having to ask you to fingerspell.

Limitations of this guide

No verified sign evidence was available for this article, so it gives no specific handshape, movement or regional variant for "mature." Use a video dictionary or a fluent ASL signer for the sign itself. Fingerspelling the word is a reliable way to be understood until then.