How to sign “Don't know” in BSL
BSL and ASL are different languages — this is the British sign. See the ASL sign for “Don't know” instead
Step by step
- Make the KNOW sign: fist with thumb out, tapping the side of your head.
- While signing, shake your head side to side with a slight frown.
- In BSL the headshake itself carries the negation — it happens during the sign, not after it.
Practice tip
Practise the headshake as part of the sign from day one; BSL negation is simultaneous, not sequential.
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.