How to sign “Before” in BSL

Time

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

Step by step

  1. Form a closed flat hand with both hands, fingers pressed together.
  2. Rest your dominant hand directly on top of your non-dominant hand at chest height.
  3. Slide the top hand backwards until it lands on your non-dominant forearm in one smooth motion.
  4. Keep both palms facing down while the base hand stays steady throughout the slide.
  5. Mouth the word 'before' clearly as the top hand arrives at your forearm.

Practice tip

The top hand physically moves backward — the direction of the movement carries the meaning.

Fingerspell “Before”

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 BBSL two-handed handshape for letter EBSL two-handed handshape for letter FBSL two-handed handshape for letter OBSL two-handed handshape for letter RBSL two-handed handshape for letter E

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.

Related BSL signs

Browse all 340 BSL signs in the dictionary