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Friday, October 24, 2025
Sign of the Day
millimetre
BSL sign for "millimetre" involves the dominant hand forming a precision grasp, moving briefly forward from the chest. This represents a small, precise measurement
B1 Uncommon Noun British Sign Language (BSL) Technical
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Dominant hand, index finger and thumb tips touching
Short linear forward or outward
Discussions involving precise measurements, science, engineering
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 precision handshape (index and thumb tips touching)
- Place hand in front of chest
- Move hand short distance forward/outward
- Repeat movement briefly
Coach prompt
Imagine needing to measure a very small gap. Practice the sign for "millimetre" while thinking of precision. Focus on the handshape and small forward movement
Signature details
Handshape
Dominant hand, index finger and thumb tips touching · Code F-hand variant
Dominant hand
Right
Symmetry
N/A
Contact
Air
Palm orientation
Downward or forward
Eyebrows
Neutral
Eye gaze
Forward
Head movement
None
Mouth morpheme
mm
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 GAP 3 MILLIMETRE WIDE
Emphasize smallness with focused non-manual features
Best fit: Discussions involving precise measurements, science, engineering
Mirror focus
Imagine needing to measure a very small gap. Practice the sign for "millimetre" while thinking of precision. Focus on the handshape and small forward movement
Catch the slip
Ensure your index finger and thumb tips are touching, not just close. The movement should be short and precise, not a large sweep. Repeat for emphasis
Use it today
THE GAP 3 MILLIMETRE WIDE
Common mistakes: Confusing with generic 'small' or 'centimetre'
When not to use it: When referring to larger units like centimetres or metres
Regional note: Some minor regional variations exist
Cultural note: Metric system is standard in UK measurements
1.[en] The gap is three millimetres. / BSL:[THREE MILLIMETRE]
2.[en] We need to measure in millimetres. / BSL:[WE NEED MEASURE MILLIMETRE]
3.[en] It's a tiny millimetre adjustment. / BSL:[SMALL MILLIMETRE ADJUST]
What is the BSL sign for millimetre?
It's a one-handed sign with the dominant hand forming a precision grasp, moving short and linearly forward or outward from the chest area.
How do you sign millimetre in BSL?
Form a precision handshape with index finger and thumb tips touching. Position it in front of your chest, then move it a short distance forward or outward.
Is millimetre one-handed or two-handed in BSL?
The sign for millimetre in BSL is typically a one-handed sign, using only the dominant hand.
What handshape is used for millimetre in BSL?
The handshape for millimetre in BSL is a precision grasp, where the tips of the index finger and thumb are touching or very close.
How does millimetre differ from similar signs in BSL?
Millimetre uses a small, precise forward movement and a 'precision' handshape. Centimetre typically uses a flat B-hand moving outwards, indicating a slightly larger, but still small, measurement. The distinction is in the handshape and the implied scale of movement.
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Word web
mm
metric unit
tiny length
Metre
kilometre
Centimetre
metre
length
measurement
Centimetre
Metre
Measurement
Length
Small
Science
CENTIMETRE: Uses a flat B-hand (or 1-hand) moving outward from the chest. Millimetre uses a precision handshape (index and thumb tips close) and a smaller, more contained movement. Centimetre represents a slightly larger unit. SMALL: Can use various handshapes like a C-hand contracting or a flat hand moving towards itself. While semantically similar, the "millimetre" sign is specific to measurement and uses a distinct precision handshape and linear forward movement
Measurement
science
dimensions
mm BSL
measurement BSL
length BSL
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