How to sign “Closed” in BSL
BSL and ASL are different languages — this is the British sign. See the ASL sign for “Closed” 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
Past form of “Close” — signed with the base sign; time is shown separately, not on the verb.
Fingerspell “Closed”
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.