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Saturday, April 11, 2026
Sign of the Day
spruce
The BSL sign for "spruce" uses both 5-handshapes, fingers slightly spread. Hands start together, then move upwards and outwards in an arc, resembling a tree growing
B1 Uncommon Noun British Sign Language (BSL) Neutral
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Both hands, 5-handshape, fingers spread slightly
Hands start together, move upwards and outwards in an arc
Describing a specific type of tree, discussing forestry
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 5-handshapes, fingers spread slightly
- Place hands together in front of body
- Move hands upwards in an arc
- Spread hands outwards simultaneously
Coach prompt
Practice the arc movement with spread 5-hands
Signature details
Handshape
Both hands, 5-handshape, fingers spread slightly · Code 5
Dominant hand
Either
Symmetry
Symmetric
Contact
Air
Palm orientation
Palms face each other, then spread forward/outward
Eyebrows
Neutral
Eye gaze
Forward
Head movement
None
Mouth morpheme
None
Body shift
None
Use It Today
Move from recognition to real-life use
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1.[en] That spruce is tall. / BSL:[note] SIGN(SPRUCE) TALL
Specifically distinguishes a spruce tree from other conifers
Best fit: Describing a specific type of tree, discussing forestry
Mirror focus
Practice the arc movement with spread 5-hands
Catch the slip
Ensure fingers are spread and the movement is an upward-outward arc, not just sideways
Use it today
1.[en] That spruce is tall. / BSL:[note] SIGN(SPRUCE) TALL
Common mistakes: Confusing with general 'TREE' or 'PINE'
When not to use it: When referring to any general tree or a different conifer type
Regional note: None significant
Cultural note: Part of Britain's natural landscape
1.[en] We saw a spruce forest. / BSL:[note] WE SEE SIGN(SPRUCE) FOREST.
2.[en] The spruce needles are sharp. / BSL:[note] SIGN(SPRUCE) NEEDLES SHARP.
3.[en] Spruce is common. / BSL:[note] SIGN(SPRUCE) COMMON
What is the BSL sign for spruce?
It's a two-handed sign using spread 5-handshapes, moving upwards and outwards in an arc in front of the body.
How do you sign spruce in BSL?
Bring both spread 5-hands together palms facing, then arc them upwards and outwards simultaneously in front of your body, resembling a growing tree.
Is spruce one-handed or two-handed in BSL?
It is a two-handed sign. Both hands perform the same symmetric movement at the same time.
What handshape is used for spruce in BSL?
The 5-handshape is used for both hands, with the fingers slightly spread apart.
How does spruce differ from similar signs in BSL?
The sign for 'SPRUCE' (both 5-hands, spread, upward-outward arc) is distinct from general 'TREE' (often one hand on forearm, swaying, or wiggling upwards) by its specific two-handed, spreading arc movement representing the conical shape. It differs from 'PINE' (often uses G-hand or F-hand for needles) by its broader handshape and movement, focusing on the overall tree form rather than specific needles.
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Word web
Conifer
fir tree
Deciduous tree
shrub
Tree
forest
pine
evergreen
Tree
Forest
Pine
Evergreen
Conifer
The sign for 'SPRUCE' (both 5-hands, spread, upward-outward arc) is distinct from general 'TREE' (often a B-hand on forearm, swaying, or 5-hand wiggling upwards) by its specific two-handed, spreading arc movement representing the conical shape. It differs from 'PINE' (often uses G-hand or F-hand for needles) by its broader handshape and movement, focusing on the overall tree form rather than specific needles
Trees
plants
nature
forestry
evergreen
Spruce BSL
BSL sign spruce
sign for spruce tree
Nature
plants.
trees
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