How to sign “Parent” in BSL
BSL and ASL are different languages — this is the British sign. See the ASL sign for “Parent” instead
Step by step
- Extend the index and middle fingers of your dominant hand, closing the rest into a fist.
- Hold the hand at chest height in front of your body, fingers pointing upward.
- Glide the hand sideways to one side, then back again, in a small smooth motion.
- Repeat the sideways glide two or three times, as if indicating two people.
- Keep your palm facing forward and your expression neutral and inclusive.
Practice tip
Fingerspelling M then F (mother, father) is the older form; the two-finger version suits any parents.
Fingerspell “Parent”
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.