Daily focus
Archive Replay
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Sign of the Day
honest
The BSL sign for 'honest' uses a flat hand from the chest, moving outwards in an arc, symbolizing open truth
A1 Common Adjective British Sign Language (BSL) Neutral
Today’s Snapshot
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Flat hand, fingers together, thumb tucked or alongside
From chest outward in an arc
Describing truthfulness, integrity, sincerity
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 flat hand, fingers together, thumb tucked
- Place hand on chest over heart area
- Move hand outward in an arc
- Rotate palm upwards as it moves away from body
Coach prompt
Sign 'He is honest'
Signature details
Handshape
Flat hand, fingers together, thumb tucked or alongside · Code B-hand variant
Dominant hand
Either
Symmetry
N/A
Contact
Touch
Palm orientation
Palm in, rotates to palm up/forward
Eyebrows
Neutral
Eye gaze
Forward
Head movement
None
Mouth morpheme
Mouthing 'honest' or 'true'
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.
[en] He is an honest man. / BSL: HE HONEST MAN
Often accompanied by mouthing 'honest' or 'true'. Emphasizes sincerity
Best fit: Describing truthfulness, integrity, sincerity
Mirror focus
Sign 'He is honest'
Catch the slip
Ensure your hand starts directly on the chest and completes the outward arc
Use it today
[en] He is an honest man. / BSL: HE HONEST MAN
Common mistakes: Confusing with similar signs; not touching chest
When not to use it: When referring to physical objects being 'honest' non-figuratively
Regional note: Minimal, consistent across BSL regions
Cultural note: Honesty is highly valued in many cultures, including Deaf culture
1.[en] She is honest. / BSL:[SHE HONEST]
2.[en] Be honest. / BSL:[HONEST YOU]
3.[en] Honest opinion. / BSL:[HONEST OPINION]
When would a learner use the BSL sign for honest?
Learners use it to describe someone's character, confirm truthfulness, or express sincerity in a statement or action.
What do beginners often get wrong when signing honest in BSL?
Beginners sometimes forget to make initial contact with the chest or don't complete the outward arc movement, making it less clear.
Does the BSL sign for honest change by region or context?
The core sign for 'honest' is generally consistent across BSL regions, but slight variations in arc extent or speed may occur.
Is the BSL sign for honest suitable for beginners or children?
Yes, it is a common and straightforward sign, suitable for beginners and children to learn and use in basic communication.
Which sign is most often confused with honest in BSL?
It's often confused with 'TRUE' (usually a 'G' handshape brushing the chin) or 'REAL' (often 'G' handshape from nose).
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Word web
Sincere
trustworthy
genuine
Dishonest
lie
cheat
Truth
integrity
promise
Truth
Sincere
Trust
Integrity
Genuine
The sign for HONEST (flat hand, chest to out-arc) can be confused with TRUE (G-hand, chin to out) and REAL (G-hand, nose to out). HONEST emphasizes inner sincerity, TRUE confirms factual accuracy, and REAL denotes authenticity. Pay attention to handshape and starting location for clarity
Truth
integrity
sincerity
character
Truthful
sincere
trustworthy
genuine
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