How to sign “Thinking” in BSL

Everyday Basics

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

Step by step

  1. Extend the index finger of your dominant hand, folding the others away.
  2. Raise the fingertip to the side of your forehead, near the temple.
  3. Tap the side of your head once or twice with the fingertip.
  4. Keep your palm facing inward and the finger pointing at the head.
  5. Hold a thoughtful expression — the sign needs the 'thinking' face to land.

Practice tip

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

Fingerspell “Thinking”

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 TBSL two-handed handshape for letter HBSL two-handed handshape for letter IBSL two-handed handshape for letter NBSL two-handed handshape for letter KBSL two-handed handshape for letter IBSL two-handed handshape for letter NBSL two-handed handshape for letter G

Note: H and J use a small movement in BSL fingerspelling — each image shows the starting position.

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