How to sign “Needing” in BSL

Everyday Basics

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

Step by step

  1. BSL uses the same sign for NEED as for WANT.
  2. Hold your dominant hand flat, palm facing your chest.
  3. Slide it down your chest, finishing with a small outward twist of the wrist.

Practice tip

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

Fingerspell “Needing”

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 NBSL two-handed handshape for letter EBSL two-handed handshape for letter EBSL two-handed handshape for letter DBSL 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