How to Say Thank You in Sign Language: ASL & BSL Guide
Anyone who has ever tried to thank a Deaf friend across a noisy room knows the feeling: the gesture you memorized from a video clip is not one universal sign. In fact, ASL and BSL both start at the chin, but they move in different directions — and one is often mistaken for a wave.
Sign languages worldwide: Over 300 · Estimated ASL speakers: 500,000–2,000,000 · ASL sign for thank you: Flat hand moving forward from chin · Commonality: One of the first signs taught to children · Potential confusion: Often mistaken for hitchhiking gesture
Quick snapshot
- ASL “thank you” starts with a flat hand at the chin, fingers together, and moves outward with the palm turning up (Strong ASL (ASL dictionary reference))
- BSL “thank you” begins near the chin and moves down and away (British Sign (BSL dictionary resource))
- “Thank you” is one of the first signs taught to children (ASL Interactive (beginner sign resource))
- Whether the ASL sign originally came from older bowing gestures (unconfirmed) (SignBSL (community BSL dictionary))
- Whether the “thank you” hand emoji was designed to represent the ASL sign (unconfirmed) (SignBSL (community BSL dictionary))
- Whether “thanks” and “thank you” are always signed differently — BSL dictionaries list the same sign for both (SignBSL (community BSL dictionary))
- “Thank you” appears in the earliest beginner-sign lessons, before complex grammar (ASL Interactive) (St Edward’s Primary School (BSL teaching material))
- BSL school materials place gratitude signs in the first greetings units (St Edward’s Primary School (BSL teaching material))
- The historical origin of the chin-start movement is not documented in the sources reviewed (Strong ASL; British Sign) (St Edward’s Primary School (BSL teaching material))
- Learn the polite cluster together: please, thank you, and you’re welcome (Commanding Hands)
- Make eye contact before you sign, then move the hand (British Sign)
- Check whether a video, GIF, or emoji is showing ASL or BSL before you copy it (SignBSL)
Ten quick facts, one pattern: the signs look similar across countries, but handshape, palm orientation, and starting point tell you which language you are actually signing.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Sign languages worldwide | Over 300 |
| ASL users (approx) | 500,000–2,000,000 |
| BSL users (approx) | 77,000–150,000 |
| ASL sign for thank you | Flat hand near the chin, fingers together, moving forward and slightly down |
| BSL sign for thank you | Flat hand near the chin, moving down and away (St Edward’s Primary School (BSL teaching material)) |
| ASL sign for please | Flat hand circling over the chest |
| ASL sign for I love you | Combines the handshapes for I, L, and Y |
| BSL polite-sign note | One English word does not always map to one unique sign (Commanding Hands) |
| Common confusion | The open-palm movement is often read as a hitchhiking gesture |
| Learning status | One of the first signs taught to children |
How Do You Sign ‘Thank You’ in Sign Language?
The short version: the ASL sign starts at the chin and moves outward; the BSL sign also starts at the chin but moves down and away. The differences are small and easy to mix up, so here is each version in detail.
What Is the Handshape for ‘Thank You’ in ASL?
- Handshape: fingers together with the thumb extended to the side
- Starting position: dominant hand near the chin or mouth, palm facing the signer
- Movement: outward and slightly downward, with the palm turning up or toward the person
The movement matters as much as the shape. ASL Interactive notes that signers use the sign after receiving a favor, at the end of a transaction, or to close a conversation warmly.
How to Avoid Confusing ‘Thank You’ with the Hitchhiking Sign
The same open hand that says “thank you” to an ASL signer can read as a wave — or a hitchhike — to someone who does not know ASL. The difference is not the hand; it is where the movement starts and the direction it travels.
- Starting the movement too far from the chin or mouth changes the visual form and may make the sign less recognizable
- Moving the hand sideways instead of forward and away from the face breaks the expected trajectory
- Leaving the hand flat and still loses the motion that carries the meaning
- Raising a lone thumb turns the sign into a thumbs-up or a classic hitchhiking gesture
The mental shortcut that helps: think of the chin as the starting line. If your hand begins at your face and travels toward the other person, you are signing thanks — not waving.
What Is the ‘Thank You’ Sign in British Sign Language (BSL)?
- BSL uses a flat hand beginning near the chin, moving down and away from the signer (St Edward’s Primary School (BSL teaching material))
- The same broad hand-to-face movement should not be automatically labeled ASL or BSL without identifying the language community (SignBSL (community BSL dictionary))
- Facial expression, eye contact, and calm signing are presented as important parts of BSL greetings
BSL is a language rather than a word-for-word translation system, so “thank you” does not always map to a single sign in every context (Commanding Hands (BSL training provider)).
How Do You Sign ‘You’re Welcome’ in Sign Language?
What Is the ASL Sign for ‘You’re Welcome’?
- In everyday ASL use, “you’re welcome” is often signed the same way as “thank you,” or with a very similar movement and palm orientation
- Some signers add a slight change in movement to make the response feel distinct
- Context and facial expression tell the other person whether you are thanking or responding
Using one sign for both “thank you” and “you’re welcome” is common in casual ASL, but it only works when your face and body do the grammar. The clarity comes from the whole message, not the hand alone.
How to Differentiate ‘You’re Welcome’ from ‘Thank You’
- Direction: “thank you” moves from the chin toward the other person; “you’re welcome” often returns or repeats the motion back
- Expression: a genuine “you’re welcome” pairs the sign with a nod or a warm expression
- Mouthing: in BSL, the mouth pattern can carry the distinction when two signs share a hand movement
Commanding Hands (BSL training provider) identifies the main beginner error as treating a sign as a mechanically exact English translation while overlooking context, mouthing, and facial expression.
What Is the BSL Sign for ‘You’re Welcome’?
- In BSL, the response to “thank you” is not always a mirror of the thank-you sign
- Many signers use a brushing handshape moving outward, often described as a “sha”-like motion
- The exact form can vary by region — another reminder that BSL is not a single word-for-word code
The pattern: polite sign pairs are not built like English pairs. Copy the sign without the face, the direction, and the local convention, and you are giving the word without the meaning.
How Do You Sign ‘Please’ in Sign Language?
What Is the ASL Sign for ‘Please’?
- ASL “please” uses a flat hand placed over the chest
- The hand moves in a small circular motion
- Like “thank you,” it is typically one-handed and easy for children to copy
Polite signs come in a cluster. Once a beginner learns “please,” “thank you,” and “you’re welcome” as a set, the handshapes reinforce each other instead of blurring together.
How to Sign ‘Please’ in BSL
- In BSL, “please” and “thank you” may use the same hand movement, with mouthing helping to distinguish the two (British Sign (BSL learning hub))
- Making eye contact before signing signals that the message is directed at the other person
- BSL greetings typically combine the hand movement with facial expression and a calm, unhurried motion
That overlap is exactly why BSL teachers warn against learning signs as isolated vocabulary instead of as a living language system.
What Is the Origin of the ‘Please’ Sign?
- Neither ASL nor BSL dictionaries trace “please” back to a single documented origin (Strong ASL; British Sign)
- The sources reviewed focus on current usage, not etymology (Strong ASL; British Sign)
- Gesture-origin theories exist, but none is confirmed enough to repeat as fact (unconfirmed)
The implication: you can learn the shape of “please” in a minute, but the mouth pattern and eye contact are what make it read as polite rather than abrupt.
How Do You Sign ‘I Love You’ in Sign Language?
What Is the ASL Sign for ‘I Love You’?
- The famous sign combines the ASL handshapes for I, L, and Y
- Hold up the thumb, index finger, and pinky while the middle and ring fingers stay folded
- The combined form is often called the ILY sign
This is the sign most hearing people already recognize, even if they have never taken a class. The ILY handshape travels easily across contexts — from a car window to a concert crowd — which is why it has become shorthand for affection well beyond ASL.
How to Sign ‘I Love You’ in BSL
- BSL does not use the same I-L-Y combination as a standard everyday sign
- As with “thank you,” the handshape and starting position belong to each signed language’s own vocabulary
- Copying the ASL version in a BSL conversation marks you as an ASL user, not a BSL user
As noted in the snapshot, the same broad gesture should not be labeled ASL or BSL without knowing the language community.
What Is the Cultural Significance of the ‘I Love You’ Sign?
The ILY sign is probably the most recognized piece of ASL in pop culture, yet its origin is not well documented. Recognition and documentation are two different things.
For learners, that distinction matters: a sign can be famous and still require context, facial expression, and the right language community to mean what you intend.
What this means: “I love you” is a lovely entrance point, but it is not a substitute for learning how a signed language actually works.
What Are the Emoji, GIF, and Hand Sign Representations of ‘Thank You’ in Sign Language?
What Does the ‘Thank You’ Hand Sign Emoji Look Like?
- The emoji often labeled as a thank-you gesture shows an open hand with fingers together facing forward
- It does not show the ASL chin-to-outward motion
- In some contexts, the same emoji is read as a wave, a stop signal, or a peace greeting
That does not make the emoji wrong — emoji are illustrations, not language. But if you want to send an actual “thank you” in ASL, a static open hand misses the part that matters: the movement.
Are There Sign Language GIFs for ‘Thank You’?
- GIFs show motion, which is the core of the sign — the palm rotates from facing the signer to facing outward
- A good GIF also shows the starting point at the chin, which beginners tend to skip
- A bad GIF flattens the sign into a still image, losing the palm orientation that distinguishes “thank you” from other signs
This is where GIFs and short video clips earn their place: they teach the trajectory, not just the shape.
How to Use Sign Language Emojis in Communication
- Check what the emoji actually depicts in the platform’s design — its meaning is not guaranteed
- Pair an emoji with text if you want to be understood
- For teaching a real sign, use a video or GIF, not a still image
The trade-off: emoji and GIFs make sign language visible in digital spaces, but they are shortcuts. The language lives in the motion, the face, and the conversation around it.
How to Sign ‘Thank You’ in ASL, Step by Step
Six steps, one rule: keep the movement small, start at the chin, and let your face do the rest.
- Make eye contact first. Eye contact signals that the message is directed at the other person.
- Bring your dominant hand to your chin or mouth with the fingers together and the thumb extended to the side.
- Move the hand forward and slightly downward, turning the palm so it faces up or toward the person.
- Mouth “thank you” or “thanks” while you make the movement.
- Let your facial expression match the words — a warm expression is part of the sign, not an add-on.
- If you are signing with someone from the UK, shift to the BSL pattern: flat hand near the chin moving down and away.
The implication: the sign becomes clear only when the hand, face, and context move together.
What’s Confirmed and What’s Still Unclear About the ‘Thank You’ Sign
Confirmed facts
- ASL “thank you” uses a flat hand near the chin, moving forward and slightly down, with the palm turning outward (Strong ASL (ASL dictionary reference))
- BSL “thank you” uses a flat hand near the chin, moving down and away (British Sign (BSL dictionary resource))
- “Thank you” is one of the first signs taught to children (ASL Interactive (beginner sign resource))
- The main beginner error is treating a sign as a mechanically exact English translation while overlooking context, mouthing, and facial expression (Commanding Hands (BSL training provider))
What’s unclear
- Whether the ASL sign originally came from older bowing gestures
- The exact origin of the “I love you” sign
- Whether the “thank you” hand emoji was intentionally designed to represent the ASL sign
- Whether the hand-to-chin movement developed independently in ASL and BSL or spread from a shared source
The takeaway from the evidence: the signs themselves are well documented in dictionaries, but their cultural origins remain a matter of folklore, not linguistics.
What the Sources Say
“In ASL, thank-you is commonly made with the dominant hand held near the chin or mouth and moved forward and slightly downward toward the person being thanked.”
Strong ASL (ASL dictionary reference)
“BSL is a language rather than a word-for-word translation system, so one English word does not always map to one unique sign.”
Commanding Hands (BSL training provider)
The common thread: every serious source treats “thank you” as a language event — a handshape tied to movement, face, and context — not a standalone emoji.
The Takeaway
“Thank you” in sign language is not one universal gesture. It is a small, precise movement with a starting point, a direction, and a palm change that identify the language you are using — ASL, BSL, or any of the world’s many signed languages. The hitchhiking confusion is a useful reminder that the people on the receiving end of your sign will judge your intention by your handshape and movement, not by your good will. For hearing learners who want to show genuine respect, the choice is clear: practice the chin start and the outward finish until they feel automatic, or risk being read as someone who waved and hoped for the best.
Related reading
- How to Say Thank You in Sign Language: ASL & BSL Guide
- Thank You in Sign Language: ASL, BSL, and Key Differences
Both guides lead with the same distinction: ASL and BSL are separate languages, and the polite gesture is not interchangeable.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you sign ‘thank you very much’ in ASL?
Signers usually keep the same ASL handshape and add emphasis with a slightly larger movement and a warmer facial expression. BSL teaching resources stress that facial expression and mouthing are part of the meaning.
Can you sign ‘thank you’ with just one hand?
Yes. The standard ASL sign uses one dominant hand starting near the chin and moving forward and slightly downward. The BSL version also uses one hand, starting near the chin and moving down and away.
What is the difference between ‘thank you’ and ‘thanks’ in sign language?
In BSL dictionaries, the same sign is often listed for both “thanks” and “thank you.” In ASL, signers use the same chin-to-forward movement and rely on facial expression and context to convey the level of gratitude.
Is ‘thank you’ the same in all sign languages?
No. ASL and BSL both use a flat hand near the chin, but the starting position, palm orientation, and movement differ. The same broad gesture should not be labeled ASL or BSL without identifying the language community.
How should I respond when someone signs ‘thank you’ to me?
In ASL, many signers respond with the same sign used for “you’re welcome,” which overlaps with “thank you” in casual use. In BSL, the response often involves a different handshape, so it helps to learn the local convention and to respond with eye contact and a nod.
What are some etiquette tips for using sign language to say thank you?
Establish eye contact before signing, keep the movement calm and deliberate, and let your facial expression match the meaning. BSL teaching resources describe facial expression, eye contact, and smooth signing as essential parts of polite communication.
The practical starting point: choose the sign that matches the language community you are signing with, then let the movement, mouthing, and eye contact carry the meaning.
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