How to sign “Close” in BSL
BSL and ASL are different languages — this is the British sign. See the ASL sign for “Close” instead
Step by step
- Hold both hands flat with fingers together in front of your chest, palms facing down.
- Move your hands toward each other until your dominant hand comes down to rest on top of the other.
- Press the stacked hands down slightly, like closing a lid, then hold them together briefly.
Practice tip
The mirror image of OPEN — instead of parting, the hands come together like a lid shutting.
Fingerspell “Close”
Letter by letter with the two-handed BSL alphabet — a handy backup if you forget the sign above. This is not the sign itself.
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.