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Sunday, August 17, 2025
Sign of the Day
hunger
The BSL sign for 'hunger' uses a flattened C-hand near the upper stomach, moving downwards slightly. Non-manuals like a tense face can intensify its meaning
A1 Very Common Noun British Sign Language (BSL) Neutral
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Flattened C-hand, fingers slightly curved, often claw-like
Downward and slightly inward/outward motion
Expressing a need for food, discussing meals, feeling unwell
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 a flattened C-hand, fingers slightly curved
- Place hand near upper stomach/lower chest, palm facing body
- Move hand downwards slightly, with a gentle inward/outward motion
- Repeat the movement once or twice
Coach prompt
Practice signing 'hunger' with appropriate facial expressions
Signature details
Handshape
Flattened C-hand, fingers slightly curved, often claw-like · Code Bent-5 handshape or Claw-C
Dominant hand
Right
Symmetry
Asymmetric
Contact
Near
Palm orientation
Palm usually faces inwards, towards the body
Eyebrows
Neutral
Eye gaze
Forward
Head movement
None
Mouth morpheme
'Ch-ch' or 'mm' 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.
I feel hunger, time to eat
Can be intensified by repeating movement or stronger non-manuals
Best fit: Expressing a need for food, discussing meals, feeling unwell
Mirror focus
Practice signing 'hunger' with appropriate facial expressions
Catch the slip
Ensure handshape is a flattened C-hand, not a full C or open hand. Location is upper stomach, not higher chest
Use it today
I feel hunger, time to eat
Common mistakes: Confusing with 'pain' or 'stomach'; incorrect handshape or location
When not to use it: Referring to intellectual hunger or metaphorical hunger for power
Regional note: Minimal variation across UK
Cultural note: Direct expression of bodily needs is common in BSL
1.[en] I am hungry. / BSL:[Sign HUNGER, with tense NMM]
2.[en] Do you feel hungry? / BSL:[Sign YOU HUNGER? (with question NMM)]
3.[en] He has great hunger. / BSL:[Sign HE HUNGER STRONG]
When would a learner use the BSL sign for hunger?
A learner would use this sign to express a physical need for food, to ask others if they are hungry, or when discussing meals and food-related topics in BSL conversation.
What do beginners often get wrong when signing hunger in BSL?
Beginners often confuse the handshape, using a full 'C' or an open '5' instead of the flattened, slightly clawed 'C'. Incorrect location (too high on chest or too low) or neglecting non-manual expressions are also common mistakes.
Does the BSL sign for hunger change by region or context?
The core sign for 'hunger' has minimal regional variation across the UK. However, the intensity of the feeling can be conveyed through stronger non-manuals (facial expression, body language) rather than changes to the sign itself.
Is the BSL sign for hunger suitable for beginners or children?
Yes, the BSL sign for 'hunger' is very suitable for beginners and children. It represents a fundamental and concrete bodily need, making it easy to learn, understand, and use in early language acquisition.
Which sign is most often confused with hunger in BSL?
The sign for 'hunger' is most often confused with 'stomach' due to similar location, but 'stomach' uses an open B-hand (flat hand) moving in a small circle, whereas 'hunger' uses a clawed hand with a downward motion.
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Word web
Starvation
craving
emptiness
Full
satisfied
satiated
Food
eat
thirsty
meal
hungry
Eat
Thirsty
Food
Full
Meal
STOMACH: Similar location but uses an open B-hand (flat hand) moving in a small circle on the stomach. HUNGER uses a clawed hand with a downward motion. PAIN: Often involves a dominant index finger or two hands twisting at the affected area, specific to the location of pain. HUNGER uses a clawed hand, specific location, and linear movement, not twisting. EMPTY: Conceptually linked, but EMPTY is typically a '5' handshape closing to an 'O' or 'C' hand, often in the air, not at the body, signifying lack or void
Food
basic needs
body sensations
feeling
BSL hunger
sign for hunger
hungry BSL
Basic needs
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