Fingerspell any word in BSL.
Type a word, press play, and watch each letter fingerspelled in British Sign Language. Try your name, your city, or a word you are curious about. Use the share button to send the link to someone else.
How to send this GIF in WhatsApp, iMessage or as a sticker
Download the GIF, then send it from any messaging app exactly like a photo:
- WhatsApp (phone): open a chat → tap the attachment / paper-clip icon → choose Photo & video library → pick the GIF. WhatsApp keeps it animated.
- WhatsApp (desktop / web): drag the GIF file straight into the chat window, or use the attach button.
- iMessage: in the iOS Messages app, tap the + Apps button → Photos → pick the GIF from your library.
- Make it a sticker: tools like Sticker Maker (iOS / Android) accept GIFs and turn them into reusable WhatsApp stickers.
Tip: the GIF loops forever, so it stays animated however many times your reader opens the chat.
Looking for the chart? Free downloadBSL fingerspelling alphabet chartKeep going with the other free tools
Today’s Signspell
Seven BSL handshapes and one puzzle, changing each day. How many words can you spell using only today’s letters?
Play today’s puzzle
Print a name
Generate a clean image of any name or word fingerspelled in BSL. Use it in an email signature, classroom poster or birthday card.
Create a printable image
Test what you know
Watch ten words fingerspelled and type what you read. Save your personal best, build a daily streak, and compare your score on the public leaderboard.
Start the quiz
Play Fingerspelling Invaders
Handshapes fall from the top – read each one and hit the matching letter before it lands. An arcade game that trains you to read fingerspelling at speed.
Play the game
Make a word search
Pick a theme or type your own words, choose a grid size and build a printable BSL fingerspelling word search with an answer key.
Open the makerA note on fingerspelling
Fingerspelling is one of the first things BSL learners pick up. BSL uses a two-handed alphabet, which means each letter is formed using both hands. Some other sign languages, including American Sign Language (ASL) and Irish Sign Language (ISL), use a one-handed alphabet.
The dominant hand usually moves against the non-dominant hand, so a left-handed signer mirrors the handshapes shown above. Letters with a small arrow indicate a movement (H, J and Q).
When fingerspelling is used
- Introducing someone’s name before a sign name is shared
- Streets and smaller places that don’t have a local sign
- Brand names, product names and acronyms
- Words you’re still learning the sign for
- To spell out the English word for a sign someone hasn’t seen before
- As part of other signs (the sign for ‘gold’ uses a G handshape)