How to sign “Hello” in BSL

Greetings & Politeness

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

Step by step

  1. Hold your dominant hand up near the side of your head.
  2. Wave it gently from side to side with your palm facing outward.
  3. Keep eye contact and smile while you wave.

Practice tip

The same wave is also used for 'hi' and 'bye' in BSL.

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 47 BSL signs in the dictionary