Thank You in Sign Language: ASL and BSL Signs Explained
Most of us assume there is one way to say thank you, but sign language splits that phrase in two. British Sign Language and American Sign Language are separate languages, so a sign that works in one can confuse someone using the other.
BSL starting handshape: Flat hand with fingertips on the chin · BSL movement: Hand moves down and away from the signer · BSL meaning: An expression of gratitude · ASL thank-you signs shown: THANK-YOU and THANKFUL · ASL and BSL status: Separate sign languages with different signs
Quick snapshot
- The BSL thank-you begins with a flat hand, fingertips on the chin (British Sign Language dictionary entry)
- ASL and BSL are distinct sign languages (British Sign Language dictionary entry)
- Regional BSL variants for thank you have not been verified
- How often the ride gesture is mistaken for thank you is not established
- No dated milestones were available in the supplied inputs
- Video tutorials are the most visible source for ASL thank-you forms (YouTube tutorial)
- Confirm each ASL sign form against an ASL dictionary before relying on it
- Pair the thank-you sign with the spoken word when teaching a baby (YouTube Shorts)
The table below compares the core facts for the thank-you sign, which is where most readers start.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| BSL starting handshape | Flat hand, fingertips on the chin |
| BSL movement | Hand moves down and away from the signer |
| BSL meaning | Expression of gratitude |
| ASL signs shown in tutorial | THANK-YOU and THANKFUL |
| ASL and BSL status | Separate sign languages |
| Good vs thank you in ASL | Separate signs |
The implication: the BSL column rests on the dictionary entry, while the ASL column flags the details the inputs do not verify.
How do you sign thank you in British Sign Language?
Starting handshape and location
- Start with a flat hand.
- Place the fingertips on the chin (British Sign Language dictionary entry).
Movement direction and meaning
- Move the hand down and away from the signer (British Sign Language dictionary entry).
- The sign means an expression of gratitude (British Sign Language dictionary entry).
The implication: a BSL learner only needs the handshape, location, and direction to get this sign right, and the dictionary gives all three.
How do you sign thank you in American Sign Language?
THANK-YOU and THANKFUL signs
- An ASL instructional video demonstrates THANK-YOU and THANKFUL as separate signs, each shown in an example sentence (YouTube tutorial).
- The video confirms the two signs exist, but the supplied inputs do not confirm their handshapes.
Avoiding the mistaken ride gesture
- A community post on r/asl reportedly finds that an uninformed ride gesture is often read as thank you (Tier 3, context only).
- ASL is a separate language from BSL, so a BSL sign does not transfer directly to ASL users.
The r/asl community post describes the ride gesture as one that uninformed viewers reportedly take for thank you.
r/asl community post (Tier 3, context only)
Learners who copy a gesture from a video without checking it against a dictionary risk the same confusion the community post describes. Confirm each ASL form first, then teach it. For a side-by-side look at the sign systems, read Thank You in Sign Language: ASL, BSL, and Auslan Compared.
The pattern: the ASL tutorial shows two distinct signs, so a single “thank you” sign in ASL is the wrong assumption to make.
How is the sign for good different from thank you in ASL?
Handshape differences
- Good and thank you are separate signs in ASL.
- The supplied inputs do not confirm the handshape of either ASL sign, so verify both in an ASL dictionary before publishing.
Common mix-ups between the two signs
- Do not substitute one sign for the other, because they are separate signs.
- Check the spelling of each sign label in the dictionary before teaching it.
The trade-off: a short comparison saves time, but it only works if each sign’s form is checked against a dictionary first.
How do you sign you’re welcome in sign language?
Using you’re welcome as a reply
- You’re welcome is the reply to thanks, and its sign differs between sign languages.
- The inputs do not provide a verified BSL or ASL form for the reply.
Regional variation in British Sign Language
- British Sign Language shows regional variation.
- Regional thank-you variants are unclear from the supplied sources, so do not assume one regional form applies everywhere.
Why this matters: a learner who uses the wrong regional reply can sound unfamiliar to a Deaf signer, even when the basic meaning is clear.
How do you teach a baby to sign thank you?
Short, repeated practice
- A short ASL video for babies (YouTube Shorts) demonstrates the thank-you sign.
- The clip supports short sessions, but the inputs do not include a verified number of repetitions.
Pairing the sign with spoken words
- Parents commonly pair signs with spoken words during teaching.
- Read Thank You in Sign Language: ASL Sign, Steps & Tips for the ASL sign steps before you start.
Parents teaching a baby thank you should say the word while signing it. That pairing is the method the ASL video models and the one parents commonly use.
The implication: a parent who speaks the word while signing it gives the baby both cues at the same moment.
Steps for the BSL thank-you sign
- Start with a flat hand.
- Place the fingertips on the chin.
- Move the hand down and away from the signer.
The implication: three steps cover the BSL form in the dictionary entry, so a beginner can practise the whole sign in under a minute.
The table below sets the British and American forms side by side, with gaps marked where the inputs do not confirm a detail.
| Aspect | British Sign Language | American Sign Language |
|---|---|---|
| Thank-you sign form | Flat hand, fingertips on chin, moves down and away | THANK-YOU and THANKFUL shown in tutorial; handshape not verified |
| Meaning | Expression of gratitude | Shown with an example sentence in tutorial |
| Language status | Separate language from ASL | Separate language from BSL |
| Good vs thank you | Not covered in inputs | Separate signs |
| Common error | Not covered in inputs | Ride gesture reportedly read as thank you |
The pattern: the two systems share a meaning, not a form, so the same English phrase needs two separate lessons.
Confirmed facts and open questions
Confirmed facts
- The BSL thank-you begins with a flat hand, fingertips on the chin, and moves down and away from the signer (British Sign Language dictionary entry).
- An ASL tutorial demonstrates THANK-YOU and THANKFUL (YouTube tutorial).
- ASL and BSL are distinct sign languages (British Sign Language dictionary entry).
What’s unclear
- Regional BSL variants for thank you.
- The handshapes of the ASL THANK-YOU and THANKFUL signs.
- How often the ride gesture is mistaken for thank you.
- The search volume for this phrase, which the inputs list as unknown.
No verified source URLs were supplied with this draft, so named sources appear in the text without links, and the ten-citation minimum is not yet met. Confirm each ASL sign form and the baby-teaching guidance against a dictionary or teaching source, then add links before publication.
The implication: the BSL form rests on a single dictionary entry, so the ASL rows and the open questions need checking before the article goes live.
What the sources say
The BSL dictionary entry defines the thank-you handshape, its movement, and its meaning as an expression of gratitude.
British Sign Language dictionary entry
A community post on r/asl describes an uninformed ride gesture that viewers reportedly take for thank you. Treat this as context, not as a verified sign.
r/asl community post (Tier 3, context only)
The implication for readers: the dictionary is the stronger guide, and community posts are useful for spotting mistakes but not for confirming forms.
For parents teaching a baby, the choice is clear: pair the thank-you sign with the spoken word from the first session, or wait until a dictionary confirms the form you plan to teach.
Frequently asked questions
Is the thank you sign the same in ASL and BSL?
No. ASL and BSL are separate sign languages. The BSL sign uses a flat hand on the chin that moves away, while the ASL tutorial shows THANK-YOU and THANKFUL.
Why do people mistake the ride gesture for thank you?
A community post on r/asl reports that uninformed viewers often read it as thank you. That post is Tier 3 context, so treat it as a reported pattern rather than a confirmed fact.
What does the thank you sign mean in sign language?
According to the British Sign Language dictionary entry, the BSL thank-you sign expresses gratitude.
Where can I check a verified sign for thank you?
Check a national sign language dictionary before you use a sign. The British Sign Language dictionary is the reference cited for the BSL form in this article.
Do sign languages vary by region?
British Sign Language shows regional variation. Regional thank-you variants have not been verified here, so check a regional source before teaching one.
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