Archive Replay Wednesday, July 30, 2025

Sign of the Day

mould fungus

The sign visually represents an unpleasant growth spreading on a surface, often with a negative NMF

B1 Uncommon Noun British Sign Language (BSL) Neutral
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Daily focus

Today’s meaning

A type of fungus that grows as multicellular filaments, often seen as fuzzy patches of decay

Source
Today’s Snapshot

The meta fields are doing real work here

This page turns your sign metadata into a fast, readable fingerprint of how the sign looks, feels, and fits into real conversation.

Level B1
Frequency Uncommon
Class Noun
Hand count Two-handed
Movement Linear, Repeated
Location On the palm of the non-dominant hand
Face & eyes Slight nose scrunch, subtle negative facial expression
Language British Sign Language (BSL) · United Kingdom
Shape cue

Dominant hand uses a bent 5-hand (clawed fingers). Non-dominant hand is a B-hand (flat hand)

Motion cue

Dominant hand's bent fingers wiggle while moving across the non-dominant palm

Meaning cue

Discussing food spoilage, dampness, hygiene issues, or biological decay

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

  1. Form non-dominant B-hand palm up
  2. Place dominant bent 5-hand on non-dominant palm
  3. Wiggle dominant fingers while moving slightly across palm
  4. Simultaneously show a slight nose scrunch
Coach prompt

Practice signing "mould fungus" with an appropriate NMF

Signature details

Handshape Dominant hand uses a bent 5-hand (clawed fingers). Non-dominant hand is a B-hand (flat hand) · Code Bent 5, B
Dominant hand Right
Symmetry Asymmetric
Contact Brush
Palm orientation Dominant palm faces down/towards non-dominant. Non-dominant palm faces up
Eyebrows Neutral
Eye gaze Forward
Head movement None
Mouth morpheme "pff" or "eww" mouth shape
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.

Natural example
The bread has mould fungus

Often accompanied by NMFs showing disgust or concern about the decay

Best fit: Discussing food spoilage, dampness, hygiene issues, or biological decay

Daily drills
Mirror focus

Practice signing "mould fungus" with an appropriate NMF

Catch the slip

Ensure fingers wiggle and spread across the non-dominant palm, not just static. NMF is important for meaning

Use it today

The bread has mould fungus

Watch-outs

Common mistakes: Confusing with general "grow" or "spread" without the specific NMF

When not to use it: When discussing positive growth or non-fungal spreading

Regional note: Minor variations in finger wiggling or hand movement

Cultural note: General awareness of hygiene and food safety

Practice line

1.[en] The bread has mould fungus. / BSL:[sign for bread] [sign for mould fungus]

Practice line

2.[en] I saw mould fungus in the bathroom. / BSL:[sign for bathroom] [sign for mould fungus] [sign for see]

Practice line

3.[en] Is this mould fungus dangerous? / BSL:[this] [sign for mould fungus] [sign for dangerous] [question sign]

Connect the Dots

Turn one sign into a small learning cluster

These links use your relationship fields, related vocabulary, and category context so the daily page becomes a launchpad instead of a dead end.

Word web

Mildew rot blight spoilage Cleanliness freshness pristine Spores decay damp organism fungus Decay Spoil Bacteria Mildew

GROW (plant): Uses a dominant C-hand or O-hand moving upwards through the non-dominant O-hand or fist, showing vertical growth. "Mould fungus" shows horizontal, spreading growth on a surface. SPREAD (general): Often uses two open 5-hands moving apart from a central point. While "mould fungus" involves spreading, it's specific to an organic growth on a surface, using distinct handshapes and often a negative NMF. SMELL (bad): Typically involves a bent B-hand or 5-hand moving towards the nose, often with a strong negative NMF. "Mould fungus" focuses on the visual growth, not just the olfactory aspect

Food decay hygiene damp biology problem BSL mould BSL fungus BSL mildew BSL rot BSL decay
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Come Back Tomorrow

Build a rhythm around one sign a day

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Today mould fungus B1 Tue light bulb A1 Mon padlock A1 Sun workbench B1 Sat copper A2 Fri birch B2 Thu sleep A1
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Video credit: The demonstration video on this page is credited to SpreadTheSign. The video remains the property of the original rightholder.

All written explanations, learning notes, examples, comparisons, and page design on this page are SignDeaf educational material.

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