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Saturday, March 28, 2026
Sign of the Day
vapour
The BSL sign for 'vapour' uses both 5-hands starting at the mid-chest, moving upwards and slightly apart. Fingers wiggle to represent the ethereal, spreading quality of vapour
B1 Uncommon Noun British Sign Language (BSL) Neutral
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Both hands open, fingers spread, thumb slightly extended
Hands move upwards and apart, fingers wiggle
Describing steam, mist, or gas, often scientific or descriptive 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 both hands into open 5-shapes, fingers spread.
- Place hands mid-chest, palms slightly inward.
- Move hands upward and slightly apart.
- Wiggle fingers continuously during the upward movement
Coach prompt
Practice the fluid upward movement and finger wiggling with both hands. Focus on the mouth shape
Signature details
Handshape
Both hands open, fingers spread, thumb slightly extended · Code BSL 5-hand
Dominant hand
Either
Symmetry
Symmetric
Contact
Air
Palm orientation
Palms slightly inward, then upward
Eyebrows
Neutral
Eye gaze
Forward
Head movement
None
Mouth morpheme
'Pah' or 'Puff' can be used
Body shift
No
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 kettle produced a lot of vapour
Often accompanied by a mouth shape showing puffing. Can indicate expansion
Best fit: Describing steam, mist, or gas, often scientific or descriptive contexts
Mirror focus
Practice the fluid upward movement and finger wiggling with both hands. Focus on the mouth shape
Catch the slip
Ensure fingers wiggle continuously. Start mid-chest, move upward and outward. Use the 'puff' mouth shape
Use it today
The kettle produced a lot of vapour
Common mistakes: Confusing with 'smoke' or 'cloud'. Not wiggling fingers
When not to use it: When specifically meaning 'smoke' or 'fog', use their distinct signs
Regional note: Minor variations in height or speed, but core movement consistent
Cultural note: N/A
1.[en] The steam from the kettle was hot / BSL:[Sign for kettle, then vapour, then hot]
2.[en] Mist rose from the ground / BSL:[Sign for mist/vapour, then ground]
3.[en] Toxic fumes filled the air / BSL:[Sign for toxic, then vapour, then air]
When would a learner use the BSL sign for vapour?
A learner would use this sign to describe steam, mist, or gas, often in contexts like cooking, weather, or science lessons. It conveys the visual idea of something light and airy rising.
What do beginners often get wrong when signing vapour in BSL?
Beginners often forget to wiggle their fingers, which is crucial for representing the ethereal, spreading quality. They might also confuse it with 'smoke' or 'cloud' if the movement or mouth shape isn't distinct.
Does the BSL sign for vapour change by region or context?
While the core movement and handshape are consistent, minor regional variations might occur in the exact height reached or speed. Contextually, the mouth shape might vary slightly to emphasize density or volume.
Is the BSL sign for vapour suitable for beginners or children?
Yes, it is suitable. The sign is visually descriptive and relatively straightforward to execute. Children might enjoy mimicking the wiggling fingers and 'puff' mouth shape.
Which sign is most often confused with vapour in BSL?
It is often confused with the signs for 'smoke' or 'cloud.' 'Smoke' typically involves a more distinct upward swirl, and 'cloud' often has more rounded handshapes or a larger upward arc.
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Word web
Steam
mist
fog
fume
gas
Solid
liquid
Cloud
smoke
air
water
Steam
Mist
Cloud
Gas
Evaporation
Vapour vs. Smoke: Vapour (this sign) uses open 5-hands wiggling upwards, implying a lighter, dissipating quality, often with a 'puff' mouth. Smoke often uses C-hands or clawed hands, moving upwards with a distinct swirling motion, sometimes with a 'ssh' mouth, conveying denser, often darker fumes.
Vapour vs. Cloud: Vapour emphasizes rising and dissipating. Cloud often uses bent B-hands or rounded 5-hands, forming larger, more stable masses or shapes in the air, without the explicit finger wiggling. Cloud refers to a visible mass, vapour to the gas itself
Science
weather
physics
descriptive
Steam
mist
gas
fume
evaporation
BSL
sign
language
science
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