A1thirst
Feeling a need or desire to drink
BSL Sign Language - Deaf-First Platform
Learn British Sign Language,
One Sign at a Time
The most complete BSL dictionary online - with videos, handshape guides, and AI-powered learning notes. New signs added every week for our community. Free for everyone.
Daily
New Signs Added
5
Categories
6
CEFR Levels
100%
Free to Start
Today's Sign
Sign of the Day
A new sign every day - bookmark it, practise it, remember it.
B2
Saturday, 30 May
silicon
Noun
A brittle crystalline metalloid, used in electronics
Watch & LearnAlways Growing
Recently Added Signs
New signs added every week - from everyday greetings to specialist vocabulary.
A1
A1ask
To request information, permission, or clarification
A1green
The color between blue and yellow in the spectrum
A1forget
To lose memory of something; fail to recall
A2interest
To attract or hold attention; to engage curiosity
A1take
To grasp and move an object from one place to another
A1👐lesson
A period of instruction or learning
A2👐exchange
To give and receive something, trade reciprocally
A2return
To come or go back to a place, person, or previous state
A1free
Not confined or restricted; available without cost
A2👐volleyball
A team sport where players hit a ball over a net with their hands
A1call
To communicate or summon someone using a verbal or technological method
📚 Full BSL Dictionary
The most complete
BSL dictionary online
Search, filter by category, difficulty or handshape. Every sign has a video, AI-written guide, and CEFR rating. All free.
Explore All Signs →New signs added every week · Free forever · Growing every day
Browse Topics
Explore by Category
From everyday greetings to specialist vocabulary - find exactly the signs you need.
Your Learning Journey
Six Levels, One Clear Path
SignDeaf uses the international CEFR framework so you always know exactly where you are and what to learn next.
A1
Absolute Beginner
Your first BSL signs - greetings, yes/no, numbers 1–10, basic responses.
Browse A1 signs
C1
Upper Intermediate
Fluent signing - abstract concepts, idioms, professional contexts.
Browse C1 signsSimple & Effective
How SignDeaf Works
Three steps from complete beginner to confident BSL signer.
Search or Browse
Find any BSL sign by name, category, or browse the full A–Z dictionary. Filter by difficulty to match your level.
Watch & Learn
Watch the HD video, slow it down, read the handshape guide, and study AI-written usage notes with cultural context.
Practise & Track
Mark signs as learned, track your progress through CEFR levels, and earn achievement badges as your vocabulary grows.
🚀 Unlock More
Go Further with a SignDeaf Plan
The dictionary is free forever - upgrade to supercharge your learning with AI-powered tools, progress tracking, and priority support.
Sign Explorer
Perfect to get started
Free
forever
- Full BSL dictionary access
- Video & handshape guides
- CEFR difficulty ratings
- AI practice & quizzes
- Progress tracking
- Achievement badges
Most Popular
Sign Master
For serious learners
£9.99
/month
or £7.99/mo billed annually - save 20%
- Everything in Explorer
- AI-powered practice sessions
- Full progress dashboard
- Achievement badge system
- Priority email support
- 1-to-1 Deaf tutor sessions
Sign Legend
The complete experience
£19.99
/month
or £15.99/mo billed annually - save 20%
- Everything in Master
- 1-to-1 Deaf tutor sessions
- Early access to new features
- Exclusive Legend Discord channel
- Certificate of completion
- Directly funds Deaf charities
FAQs
Everything You Need to Know
Questions about BSL, our dictionary, and how SignDeaf works.
British Sign Language (BSL) is the first or preferred language of over 150,000 Deaf people in the UK. It is a complete, natural language with its own grammar, syntax, and vocabulary - not a signed version of English. BSL uses handshapes, movement, location, facial expressions, and body language to communicate meaning.
BSL was officially recognised as a language by the UK Government in 2003, and achieved full legal recognition under the British Sign Language Act 2022.
No. BSL (British Sign Language) and ASL (American Sign Language) are entirely different languages, despite both being used in English-speaking countries. BSL uses a two-handed manual alphabet, while ASL is one-handed. They have different grammar, vocabulary, and regional dialects.
Other related systems include ISL (Irish Sign Language) and Makaton (a communication support system, not a full language). SignDeaf focuses primarily on BSL.
Yes. SignDeaf offers free access to the full BSL dictionary. Every sign page includes a video demonstration, handshape guide, CEFR difficulty rating, usage notes, and AI-generated learning tips. New signs are added to our community every week. No credit card required - create a free account to unlock practice features and progress tracking.
Reaching conversational BSL (roughly B1 level) typically takes 6–12 months of regular practice. Your first 100 signs can be learned in a few weeks. The key is consistency - even 10–15 minutes per day makes a significant difference. SignDeaf's CEFR-graded dictionary helps you track exactly where you are on your journey from A1 to C2.
SignDeaf covers all six CEFR levels from A1 (Absolute Beginner) to C2 (Advanced). Each sign is tagged with its CEFR level so you can filter the BSL dictionary to match your current ability. Start with A1 greetings and everyday vocabulary, then progress through B1 conversational signs to C2 specialist and professional vocabulary.
Both - but the Deaf community comes first. SignDeaf was built from the ground up as a Deaf-first platform. The dictionary includes cultural notes, Deaf community context, and regional BSL variations. Deaf users can use it as a reference dictionary. Hearing learners - parents of Deaf children, interpreters in training, social workers, healthcare professionals - can use it as a structured learning resource.
The core dictionary is free forever. A paid Sign Master or Sign Legend membership unlocks AI-powered practice sessions, progress tracking, achievement badges, and priority support from our Deaf team. Start with the free Sign Explorer plan - no time limit, no credit card required.
Join the Deaf-first
learning community
Free forever. No credit card. Start with your first sign in under a minute and join thousands already learning BSL on SignDeaf.
✓ Free dictionary access
✓ No credit card needed
✓ Deaf-first platform
✓ New signs added every week
Learn British Sign Language Online - Free & Accessible
SignDeaf is the UK's most comprehensive free British Sign Language (BSL) dictionary and learning platform. Every sign in our dictionary includes a video demonstration, step-by-step handshape instructions, CEFR difficulty rating, cultural notes, AI-written usage tips, and example sentences. Whether you are a complete beginner starting with the BSL alphabet or an advanced learner building specialist vocabulary, SignDeaf has everything you need.
Why Learn BSL?
British Sign Language is the first language of over 150,000 Deaf people in the UK. Learning BSL opens doors to a rich culture, enables you to communicate with Deaf colleagues, friends, and family, and is increasingly valued in healthcare, education, and social care professions. The UK BSL Act 2022 formally recognised BSL as a language of the United Kingdom.
How Our Dictionary Works
Our BSL dictionary contains a growing collection of signs across 5 categories. Each sign is tagged with a CEFR level (A1–C2), frequency rating (Very Common to Rare), and category tags so you can browse by topic. Use the alphabet navigator for A–Z browsing or the search bar to find any sign instantly. All content is free - no paywall, no time limit.