How to sign “Run” in BSL
BSL and ASL are different languages — this is the British sign. See the ASL sign for “Run” instead
Step by step
- Close both hands into tight fists, keeping the thumbs tucked inside.
- Hold both fists in front of your chest at shoulder width.
- Pump the fists up and down in quick alternation, like pumping arms while running.
- Keep the fists vertical, moving about a hand's length with each pump.
- Lean your body slightly forward — the lean sells the running motion.
Practice tip
Your fists become the pumping arms of a runner — alternate fast and short.
Fingerspell “Run”
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.