How to sign “Getting” in BSL

Everyday Basics

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

Step by step

  1. Hold your dominant hand out in front of you with the fingers curved, like a claw.
  2. Keep your palm facing inward toward your own body, fingers still curved.
  3. Close your fingers into a tight fist, as if grabbing something from the air.
  4. Pull the fist back to touch your chest in one smooth motion.

Practice tip

“Getting” is signed with the base GET sign — ASL/BSL marks ongoing action on the sign, not with a separate word.

Fingerspell “Getting”

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 GBSL two-handed handshape for letter EBSL two-handed handshape for letter TBSL two-handed handshape for letter TBSL two-handed handshape for letter IBSL two-handed handshape for letter NBSL two-handed handshape for letter G

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