How to sign “Winter” in BSL

Time

BSL and ASL are different languages — this is the British sign. See the ASL sign for “Winter” instead

Step by step

  1. Clench both hands into fists and hold them parallel in front of your body.
  2. Raise the fists to chest height with your arms held stiffly.
  3. Shake both fists back and forth in quick, short movements.
  4. Keep the fists close together and parallel while they shiver side to side.
  5. Let your arms stay tense to suggest cold, shuddering arms.
  6. Mouth the word 'winter' as you shake, keeping your shoulders slightly hunched.

Practice tip

Shivering fists are the memory hook — the stiff arms are half the meaning.

Fingerspell “Winter”

Letter by letter with the two-handed BSL alphabet — a handy backup if you forget the sign above. This is not the sign itself.

BSL two-handed handshape for letter WBSL two-handed handshape for letter IBSL two-handed handshape for letter NBSL two-handed handshape for letter TBSL two-handed handshape for letter EBSL two-handed handshape for letter R

See all BSL handshapes in the alphabet reference

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.

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Browse all 340 BSL signs in the dictionary