british sign language dictionary

All signs13

• ABoth hands

  Hold your non-dominant hand up flat with the fingers spread, then touch its thumb with your other index finger.

  The five vowels run thumb to pinky in order: A, E, I, O, U.

  Practise
• EBoth hands

  Hold your non-dominant hand up flat with the fingers spread, then touch its index finger with your other index finger.

  E is finger number 2, counting from the thumb.

  Practise
• IBoth hands

  Hold your non-dominant hand up flat with the fingers spread, then touch its middle finger with your other index finger.

  I is finger number 3, counting from the thumb.

  Practise
• OBoth hands

  Hold your non-dominant hand up flat with the fingers spread, then touch its ring finger with your other index finger.

  O is finger number 4, counting from the thumb.

  Practise
• UBoth hands

  Hold your non-dominant hand up flat with the fingers spread, then touch its pinky with your other index finger.

  U is finger number 5, counting from the thumb.

  Practise
• C

  One hand only: curve your fingers and thumb into the shape of a C.

  C is one of the few BSL letters that needs a single hand.

  Practise
• helloMoves

  Open hand raised in front of you, palm forward, and wave side to side.

  PractiseIn translate
• thank youMoves

  Flat hand with fingertips at your chin, palm facing you, then move forward and down away from your face.

  BSL uses the same sign for please and thank you — mouth the English word to distinguish them.

  PractiseIn translate
• 1

  Index finger straight up.

  Practise
• 2

  Index and middle fingers up.

  Practise
• 3

  Index, middle and ring fingers up.

  Practise
• 4

  All four fingers up, thumb tucked in.

  Practise
• 5

  Open hand — all five fingers spread.

  Practise