How to sign “Cold” in BSL
BSL and ASL are different languages — this is the British sign. See the ASL sign for “Cold” instead
Step by step
- Close both of your hands into loose fists in front of your body.
- Shake the fists in small, quick movements from side to side.
- Keep the trembling motion tight and close to your torso.
- Hunch your shoulders up toward your ears while the hands shake.
- Pull your chin in with a bracing expression, as if winter air is hitting you.
Practice tip
The same sign doubles for 'freezing' — a shivering body is the whole picture.
Fingerspell “Cold”
Letter by letter with the two-handed BSL alphabet — a handy backup if you forget the sign above. This is not the sign itself.
Text-based guide researched from BSL-specific references (BSL SignBank, BDA-adjacent teaching materials and BSL dictionaries) and rewritten in original words. Signer-created photos and videos are a planned future upgrade. BSL has regional variation — this is the most widely taught form.