Daily focus
Archive Replay
Saturday, January 17, 2026
Sign of the Day
today
Sign for 'today' uses both flat hands moving forward in an arc, expressing the present day
A1 Very Common Noun British Sign Language (BSL) Neutral
Today’s Snapshot
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This page turns your sign metadata into a fast, readable fingerprint of how the sign looks, feels, and fits into real conversation.
Both hands flat, fingers together, thumb alongside
Hands move forward and down in an arc
Daily conversation, scheduling, temporal references
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 flat B-hands, fingers together, thumb alongside
- Place hands near your chest, palms facing each other
- Move both hands forward and slightly down
- End with hands in front of your body, palms slightly forward
Coach prompt
Practice signing 'today' while saying the English word
Signature details
Handshape
Both hands flat, fingers together, thumb alongside · Code B-hand variant
Dominant hand
Either
Symmetry
Symmetric
Contact
Air
Palm orientation
Palms face inward, then slightly forward
Eyebrows
Neutral
Eye gaze
Forward
Head movement
None
Mouth morpheme
Neutral
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.
1.[en] I am busy today. / BSL:[busy today] | 2.[en] What are you doing today? / BSL:[what do today you] | 3.[en] Today is a good day. / BSL:[today good day]
Can be used at start or end of a sentence
Best fit: Daily conversation, scheduling, temporal references
Mirror focus
Practice signing 'today' while saying the English word
Catch the slip
Ensure both hands move symmetrically with flat handshape
Use it today
1.[en] I am busy today. / BSL:[busy today] | 2.[en] What are you doing today? / BSL:[what do today you] | 3.[en] Today is a good day. / BSL:[today good day]
Common mistakes: Confusing with 'now' or 'this'
When not to use it: When referring to a specific past or future day
Regional note: Minimal or none, widely understood
Cultural note: Integral for time-based communication in BSL
1.[en] I am busy today. / BSL:[busy today]
2.[en] What are you doing today? / BSL:[what do today you]
3.[en] Today is a good day. / BSL:[today good day]
When would a learner use the BSL sign for today?
Learners use it for current day references, like 'I'm working today' or 'What are your plans today?'. It's a foundational sign for discussing schedules and current events in everyday conversation.
What do beginners often get wrong when signing today in BSL?
Common errors include using only one hand, not keeping fingers together, or making the movement too small or too large. The symmetrical, forward-arc movement with flat hands is key for clarity.
Does the BSL sign for today change by region or context?
The sign for 'today' is remarkably consistent across BSL regions and contexts. Minor stylistic variations might occur, but the core handshape, movement, and location remain universally understood.
Is the BSL sign for today suitable for beginners or children?
Yes, it is an A1 level sign, very basic and straightforward to learn. Its clear, iconic movement makes it easily graspable for both beginner learners and young children.
Which sign is most often confused with today in BSL?
The sign for 'NOW' (often a single dominant B-hand moving downwards sharply or shaking) can sometimes be confused due to temporal proximity. Another is 'THIS' (often a Y-hand or index finger pointing).
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
Now
present day
Yesterday
tomorrow
Day
week
month
year
Yesterday
Tomorrow
Now
Week
Day
NOW: Signed with a dominant B-hand, palm up, shaking slightly or moving down sharply. 'Today' uses two flat hands, a smooth forward arc. The single hand and sharp movement distinguish 'NOW' from the bilateral, flowing 'today'. YESTERDAY: Signed with a dominant 'Y' hand or 'A' hand, thumb pointing back over the shoulder. This backward movement contrasts directly with 'today's' forward motion, indicating past time
Time
calendar
daily
Day
present
now
current
date
Daily
Come Back Tomorrow
Build a rhythm around one sign a day
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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.