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Archive Replay
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Sign of the Day
injury
The BSL sign for "injury" uses a dominant S-handshape repeatedly tapping the non-dominant arm or near the body, signifying physical harm
A2 Common Noun British Sign Language (BSL) Neutral
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Dominant hand forms a fist (S-handshape)
Sharp, repeated tapping motion
Describing physical harm from accidents or incidents
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 an S-handshape with dominant hand
- Place dominant fist on non-dominant upper arm
- Gently tap fist repeatedly on arm
- Accompany with a pained facial expression
Coach prompt
Practice the S-handshape and repeated tapping motion on your non-dominant arm. Focus on a pained facial expression
Signature details
Handshape
Dominant hand forms a fist (S-handshape) · Code S-hand
Dominant hand
Either
Symmetry
Asymmetric
Contact
Tap
Palm orientation
Towards body
Eyebrows
Furrowed
Eye gaze
Forward
Head movement
None
Mouth morpheme
Pained expression
Body shift
Slight wince
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.
He had an injury after falling
Always accompanied by a relevant facial expression indicating pain
Best fit: Describing physical harm from accidents or incidents
Mirror focus
Practice the S-handshape and repeated tapping motion on your non-dominant arm. Focus on a pained facial expression
Catch the slip
Ensure repeated, light taps, not a single hard strike. Maintain the S-handshape throughout
Use it today
He had an injury after falling
Common mistakes: Using a single strike instead of repeated taps; omitting pained NMM
When not to use it: For emotional hurt; use "HURT (feelings)"
Regional note: Core sign consistent; minor variations in exact placement or speed
Cultural note: Direct communication about physical state is typical
1.[en] He has an injury. / BSL:[sign on arm]
2.[en] My leg got injured. / BSL:[sign on leg]
3.[en] Serious injury from accident. / BSL:[add "serious"]
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Word web
Hurt
wound
trauma
Healing
recovery
Pain
accident
damage
hospital
Accident
Pain
Hurt
Hospital
Damage
HIT: Uses a single, often forceful, S-hand strike. Focuses on the action of striking something or someone. "Injury" signifies the result of physical harm.
ACCIDENT: Uses two V-hands clashing. Represents an unplanned event or collision. "Injury" is a consequence of an accident, not the event itself
Medical
health
accident
pain
damage
Hurt
wound
harm
medical
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