How to sign “Called” in BSL

Everyday Basics

Step by step

  1. Make a 'Y' with your dominant hand by extending the thumb and little finger while folding the middle fingers down.
  2. Raise the Y hand to the side of your face, bringing the thumb up beside your mouth with the palm facing you.
  3. Hold the handshape briefly at your cheek, then lower your hand back to a neutral resting position.

Practice tip

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

Fingerspell “Called”

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 CBSL two-handed handshape for letter ABSL two-handed handshape for letter LBSL two-handed handshape for letter LBSL two-handed handshape for letter EBSL two-handed handshape for letter D

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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