Daily focus
Archive Replay
Monday, March 31, 2025
Sign of the Day
know
The BSL sign for 'know' uses a specific flat handshape with the thumb touching the fingertips, starting at the temple and moving forward once
A1 Very Common Verb British Sign Language (BSL) Neutral
Today’s Snapshot
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Flat hand, thumb touches index/middle fingertips
Single outward motion from temple/forehead
Expressing understanding, possessing information, familiarity
Break It Down
Watch, build, and feel the movement
Use the numbered steps first, then check the sign anatomy cards to clean up the small details that make the sign look fluent instead of approximate.
How to form the sign
- Form flat hand, thumb to fingertips
- Place fingertips at temple/forehead
- Move hand outwards and slightly forward
- Stop with palm slightly forward
Coach prompt
Practise the precise handshape and clear forward movement from the temple
Signature details
Handshape
Flat hand, thumb touches index/middle fingertips
Dominant hand
Either
Symmetry
Asymmetric
Contact
Touch
Palm orientation
Palm faces signer or slightly forward
Eyebrows
Neutral
Eye gaze
Forward
Head movement
None or slight nod
Mouth morpheme
Silent or 'mmm' mouth pattern
Body shift
None
Use It Today
Move from recognition to real-life use
Everything below is designed to make the sign sticky: where it feels natural, what learners miss, and how to use it without sounding robotic.
1.[en] I know your name. / BSL:[MY NAME YOU KNOW.]
Can be signed with a subtle nod. Inflectable for person
Best fit: Expressing understanding, possessing information, familiarity
Mirror focus
Practise the precise handshape and clear forward movement from the temple
Catch the slip
Ensure handshape is exact (flat hand, thumb to fingertips) and movement is a single, clear forward stroke. Avoid signing too close to the eye
Use it today
1.[en] I know your name. / BSL:[MY NAME YOU KNOW.]
Common mistakes: Confusing with 'think', incorrect handshape
When not to use it: When expressing uncertainty or ignorance
Regional note: Minor location/movement differences, core sign stable
Cultural note: Direct and common expression of knowledge
1.[en] I know you. / BSL:[I KNOW YOU]
2.[en] Do you know? / BSL:[YOU KNOW?]
3.[en] She knows BSL. / BSL:[SHE KNOW BSL]
When would a learner use the BSL sign for know?
To express understanding, familiarity with a person or fact, or possessing information. Used frequently in daily conversation.
What do beginners often get wrong when signing know in BSL?
They often confuse it with 'think' or 'understand', or use an incorrect handshape like an open B-hand, rather than the precise flat hand with thumb touching fingertips.
Does the BSL sign for know change by region or context?
The core sign is widely understood across the UK. Minor regional variations might exist in exact placement or the extent of the forward movement, but the meaning remains consistent.
Is the BSL sign for know suitable for beginners or children?
Yes, 'know' is a fundamental and frequently used sign in BSL. Its simple movement and clear meaning make it ideal for early learners and children.
Which sign is most often confused with know in BSL?
The sign for 'think' is frequently confused due to a similar starting location at the temple. 'Think' uses an index finger, whereas 'know' uses a flat hand with thumb to fingertips.
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Word web
Understand
aware
recognise
Don't know
ignorant
forget
Information
learn
remember
aware
Think
Understand
Learn
Remember
Information
KNOW: Flat hand, thumb to fingertips, moves out from temple. THINK: Index finger taps temple, moves out. UNDERSTAND: Bent V-hand touches temple, opens to 5-hand. Key difference is handshape and movement. Know is a single, clear forward stroke
Cognition
understanding
information
awareness
BSL know
know sign
understand BSL
cognition
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