Daily focus
Archive Replay
Saturday, October 11, 2025
Sign of the Day
putty
The sign for 'putty' is iconic, mimicking the action of kneading or manipulating the soft, pliable material. Both hands simulate working the substance
B1 Uncommon Noun British Sign Language (BSL) Neutral
Today’s Snapshot
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Both hands form F-hands, thumbs and index fingers touching
Repeated small circular kneading motion
Discussing home repairs, glazing, art projects
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 F-hands, thumbs and index fingers touching
- Bring hands together in neutral space
- Perform small, repeated circular kneading motions
- Keep hands close, simulating working the material
Coach prompt
Practice signing 'PUTTY' clearly
Signature details
Handshape
Both hands form F-hands, thumbs and index fingers touching · Code F
Dominant hand
Either
Symmetry
Symmetric
Contact
Air
Palm orientation
Palms face each other, fingers pointing forward/slightly up
Eyebrows
Neutral
Eye gaze
Forward
Head movement
None
Mouth morpheme
Mouth 'putty'
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.
The old window needed new putty
The sign visually represents the act of kneading or working with putty
Best fit: Discussing home repairs, glazing, art projects
Mirror focus
Practice signing 'PUTTY' clearly
Catch the slip
Ensure the small, repeated circular motion is present; avoid a single large movement
Use it today
The old window needed new putty
Common mistakes: Confusing with signs for 'dough' or 'clay' due to similar action
When not to use it: When specifically referring to other materials
Regional note: Possible, but core motion is stable
Cultural note: Common in contexts of home maintenance
1.[en] The window needs putty. / BSL:[WINDOW NEED PUTTY]
2.[en] Putty is soft. / BSL:[PUTTY SOFT]
3.[en] He used putty to fix it. / BSL:[HE USE PUTTY FIX]
Connect the Dots
Turn one sign into a small learning cluster
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Word web
Filler
sealant
caulk
Window
glass
repair
seal
Sealant
Window
Glazier
Adhesive
Repair
Filler
The sign for "putty" (F-hands, small kneading) is similar to signs like "dough" and "clay" due to the manipulation of a malleable substance. "Dough" often uses flatter B-hands or slightly cupped C-hands, with larger, more vigorous kneading. "Clay" might use C-hands or B-hands, often with more shaping or pulling movements. "Putty" is distinguished by its precise F-handshape and fine, repeated circular motion, reflecting its denser, stickier texture compared to dough, and less sculptable nature than clay
Material
construction
craft
adhesive
Putty BSL
sign putty
BSL material
window sealant sign
Construction
material
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