How to sign “Built” in BSL

Everyday Basics

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

Step by step

  1. Hold both flat hands in front of your chest with fingers together and palms facing down.
  2. Lift one hand up and place it flat on top of the other, like laying a brick.
  3. Alternate hands, stacking each one on top of the last to build upward layer by layer.

Practice tip

Past form of “Build” — signed with the base sign; time is shown separately, not on the verb.

Fingerspell “Built”

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 UBSL two-handed handshape for letter IBSL two-handed handshape for letter LBSL two-handed handshape for letter T

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