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Monday, October 13, 2025
Sign of the Day
vapour
The BSL sign for 'vapour' iconically represents the upward, diffuse movement of steam or gas. The handshape depicts the form, while the rising, wavy motion illustrates its ascent
B1 Uncommon Noun British Sign Language (BSL) Neutral
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Fingers spread, slightly bent, hand cupped
Rises upwards with a wavy or spiralling motion
Describing steam, mist, or gas; scientific contexts
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 cupped hand, fingers spread, slightly bent
- Start near mouth/chest, palm slightly up
- Move hand upwards with a wavy or spiralling motion
- End in neutral space, indicating dissipation
Coach prompt
Practice the cupped handshape and the smooth, rising, wavy movement from mouth to neutral space. Focus on mouth morpheme
Signature details
Handshape
Fingers spread, slightly bent, hand cupped · Code Cupped open hand
Dominant hand
Right
Symmetry
N/A
Contact
Air
Palm orientation
Palm often faces slightly upwards or towards the body, then rotates slightly upwards
Eyebrows
Neutral
Eye gaze
Forward
Head movement
None
Mouth morpheme
Puffing cheeks, 'pah' or 'fff' 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.
The boiling kettle produced a lot of vapour
Often accompanied by mouth movements indicating exhaling or light air
Best fit: Describing steam, mist, or gas; scientific contexts
Mirror focus
Practice the cupped handshape and the smooth, rising, wavy movement from mouth to neutral space. Focus on mouth morpheme
Catch the slip
Ensure hand starts cupped near mouth and moves with a distinct upward, wavy path. Avoid fast, jerky movements or a closed handshape
Use it today
The boiling kettle produced a lot of vapour
Common mistakes: Confusing with 'smoke' or 'breath out'
When not to use it: When referring to solid or liquid states directly
Regional note: Some slight variations in hand placement or movement speed
Cultural note: BSL, like many visual languages, often uses iconic signs that visually represent concepts like 'vapour'
1.[en] Steam rose from the hot coffee. / BSL:[Sign VAPOUR, pointing to coffee]
2.[en] The air was thick with mist. / BSL:[Sign VAPOUR, indicating widespread]
3.[en] Water turns to vapour when it boils. / BSL:[Sign WATER, then change to VAPOUR with boiling motion]
What is the BSL sign for vapour?
The BSL sign for 'vapour' uses a cupped, open hand that starts near the mouth or chest and rises upwards with a wavy, spiralling motion.
How do you sign vapour in BSL?
Form a cupped hand with fingers slightly spread and bent. Start this hand near your mouth or chest, palm often slightly upwards. Then, move it upwards in a wavy or spiralling path into neutral space, often with a soft puff of the cheeks.
Is vapour one-handed or two-handed in BSL?
The BSL sign for 'vapour' is typically a one-handed sign, performed with the dominant hand.
What handshape is used for vapour in BSL?
The handshape for 'vapour' is a cupped hand with fingers spread and slightly bent, resembling the rising, diffuse nature of vapour or steam.
How does vapour differ from similar signs in BSL?
It differs from 'smoke' (often has a tighter, more vertical chimney-like movement), 'breath out' (more direct, usually a single exhale motion), and 'cloud' (often a more spread, larger handshape indicating broader expanse, or a circular motion to depict formation). Vapour's distinct cupped hand and wavy rising motion are key.
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Word web
Steam
mist
fog
exhalation
Solid
liquid
Evaporate
smoke
cloud
breath
Steam
mist
cloud
smoke
evaporate
breath
The BSL sign for 'vapour' differs from 'smoke' (often uses a G-hand or a slightly cupped hand, but with a more defined, often straighter upward path, sometimes with two hands imitating a chimney). It differs from 'breath out' (usually a B-hand or open palm moving directly away from the mouth, often a singular, forceful movement). It also differs from 'cloud' (which often involves two open B-hands moving circularly to form a cloud shape, or a single open hand expanding to show broadness). The key for 'vapour' is the cupped, open hand and the specific wavy, rising, dissipating motion
Science
weather
chemistry
cooking
BSL vapour
sign for steam
BSL mist
gas sign language
science
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