How to Say Goodbye in British Sign Language (BSL)

Sign

One common way to express goodbye in British Sign Language (BSL) is an open-hand wave. However, learners should not treat any written description as a definitive recipe. Handshape, orientation, location, movement and non-manual features work together in signed communication, and usage may vary between regions, communities and contexts.

This beginner’s guide describes the form shown in the demonstration below. Watch the signer rather than relying on the text alone, and compare examples from Deaf BSL users through UCL’s BSL SignBank. BSL SignBank is a video-based dictionary and research resource developed from BSL used by Deaf signers.

Watch a BSL goodbye demonstration

Watch the complete movement before copying it. Notice the handshape, palm direction, position, timing, face and upper body—not only the waving action.

The demonstration is one example, not a rule for every BSL user or situation. If it differs from a form taught by a proficient Deaf BSL teacher in your area, ask about regional or contextual variation rather than assuming that one version must be wrong.

BSL is a natural language with its own grammar and is not English converted word for word into gestures. The British Deaf Association’s BSL resources provide further information about BSL and the UK Deaf community. For structured learning and individual correction, study with a qualified Deaf BSL teacher.

How the demonstrated goodbye form is produced

The following description is a viewing aid for the embedded demonstration. It cannot fully represent timing, movement or natural language use, so follow the video model and specialist sources.

1. Establish visual attention

Face the person with whom you are communicating and use a comfortable, relaxed posture. Your face, hand and upper body should be clearly visible. Suitable lighting, an unobstructed line of sight and an appropriate signing distance make visual communication easier.

On a video call, check your camera framing before signing. Leave enough space above and beside your shoulders for the whole movement to remain on screen, and avoid strong backlighting that places your face or hand in shadow.

2. Raise an open dominant hand

In the demonstrated form, the signer raises an open dominant hand beside the head or within the upper signing space. The fingers are comfortably extended rather than held rigidly, and the palm is directed generally outwards towards the person receiving the farewell.

Your dominant hand is usually the hand you naturally choose for detailed tasks. Right- and left-handed signers may produce this one-handed form with different hands. Do not switch hands merely to mirror a right-handed person; consistency is generally more useful for a learner.

3. Make a controlled waving movement

Move the open hand from side to side, following the movement shown in the demonstration. Keep it within a comfortable area beside the head or upper body. The action should be easy to see without becoming an exaggerated swing of the whole arm.

The duration and energy of a farewell may change with the social context. A longer or more animated wave can sometimes convey warmth or emphasis, but there is no mechanical rule requiring learners to perform the sign twice to translate the English expression “bye-bye”. Observe how proficient Deaf signers use the form in real interactions.

4. Use context-appropriate non-manual features

BSL uses facial expression, mouth patterns, head movement and body posture as meaningful linguistic resources. These are often called non-manual features. They are not simply decoration, nor are they spoken English attached to hand movements.

Use an expression appropriate to the particular farewell. A friendly smile may be natural when leaving friends, while a formal meeting or sad departure may call for something different. Do not force an exaggerated smile or assume that smiling is a compulsory component of the sign.

You also do not need to say the English word aloud. Learners should follow the sign-specific mouth pattern and complete production used by a proficient Deaf BSL model rather than automatically voicing every English word.

A five-feature method for checking your signing

When reviewing your attempt, check these five features separately. This practical method is more useful than asking only whether your hand appeared to wave.

Handshape: is the hand relaxed and open, with the fingers comfortably extended as in the source demonstration?
Orientation: does the palm face generally outwards towards the other person in this demonstrated form?
Location: is the hand beside the head or in the upper signing space rather than down near the waist?
Movement: is the side-to-side wave clear, controlled and visible without an unnecessarily large arm movement?
Non-manual features: are your visual attention, facial expression, mouth pattern, head and posture appropriate to the interaction?

Record yourself from the front and watch once for each feature. On the first replay, inspect only the handshape; on the second, check orientation, and continue through the list. This reduces the chance of overlooking a feature while trying to assess everything simultaneously.

A recording can reveal framing or movement problems, but it cannot establish fluency, grammatical accuracy or culturally appropriate usage. Personal feedback should come from a qualified Deaf BSL teacher or an appropriately credentialled BSL professional.

BSL has one-handed and two-handed signs

The goodbye form described here uses one hand. BSL includes both one-handed and two-handed lexical signs, so learners should not assume that its vocabulary is predominantly or necessarily two-handed.

Where a sign uses two hands, the hands may have matching roles or different roles. One may provide a location or base while the dominant hand performs another part of the sign. The precise structure depends on the individual sign and should be learnt from a reliable demonstration.

BSL’s manual alphabet is generally two-handed and is used to fingerspell names, specialist terms and other English forms when appropriate. Fingerspelling is different from using an established lexical sign, so an everyday goodbye does not normally require spelling G-O-O-D-B-Y-E. Read our introduction to the British Sign Language Alphabet to explore that separate skill.

Why BSL signs can vary

BSL is not uniform throughout the UK. Vocabulary may vary according to region, generation, community and context. An established variant used by one group is not automatically incorrect because another community uses a different form.

UCL’s BSL SignBank documents BSL vocabulary and variation through video examples from Deaf BSL users. Use its dictionary to compare forms and pay attention to any regional information supplied. Video is essential because a written description cannot fully communicate speed, direction, rhythm or coordinated non-manual features.

BSL and ASL are different languages

British Sign Language and American Sign Language (ASL) are distinct languages. A gesture may look familiar across different places, but visual similarity does not make the languages interchangeable. BSL and ASL have different linguistic histories, vocabulary, grammar and fingerspelling systems.

When searching online, check whether a source explicitly identifies a demonstration as BSL. Pages labelled only “sign language” may show ASL or another signed language and should not be assumed to teach the British form.

Common beginner mistakes

Copying only the hand: watch the signer’s face, mouth pattern, head, shoulders, timing and use of space as well.
Voicing every English word: BSL is not manually coded English. Learn its grammar and sign-specific non-manual features from Deaf-led teaching.
Treating the text as definitive: use the written steps only to help you inspect a recognised video demonstration.
Signing outside the viewer’s sightline: check lighting, distance and camera framing so that the hand and face remain visible.
Overacting: keep the wave clear and proportionate to the setting rather than making an uncontrolled arm swing.
Assuming one universal version: expect legitimate regional and social variation and consult BSL video resources.
Forcing a smile: match your expression to the situation instead of treating smiling as a compulsory part of every farewell.
Confusing a sign with fingerspelling: the lexical form communicates the farewell directly; spelling the English word is a separate process.

How to continue learning BSL

Short vocabulary demonstrations can introduce individual forms, but they do not teach the grammar, interaction skills or cultural knowledge needed for a conversation. Practise complete exchanges with a Deaf BSL teacher and learn how greetings, leave-taking, questions and responses work in context.

Signature is a UK awarding organisation for deaf communication qualifications and provides information about BSL qualifications and course centres. When choosing tuition, look for clear information about the teacher’s competence, the qualification level, course outcomes and opportunities to interact visually rather than relying entirely on written vocabulary lists.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to say “goodbye” while signing?

No. Do not assume that the English word must be spoken at the same time. BSL has its own grammar and uses mouth patterns and other non-manual features. Follow the complete production of a proficient Deaf BSL model.

Which hand should I use?

Use your dominant hand for the one-handed form demonstrated here. Left-handed signing is not wrong. Aim to use your chosen dominant hand consistently rather than changing it to copy someone else’s handedness.

Must I perform the sign twice for “bye-bye”?

No fixed translation rule requires this. The length, repetition and energy of a farewell may affect its tone, but usage depends on context. Copy natural BSL examples rather than mapping each English repetition mechanically onto a movement.

Is smiling part of the sign?

A fixed smile is not required. Facial expression and other non-manual features matter, but they should fit the meaning and social circumstances. A cheerful departure, formal farewell and sad goodbye will not necessarily look alike.

Is this the only correct BSL form?

No. The demonstration presents one common form, while BSL vocabulary may vary by region and community. Compare examples from BSL SignBank and follow the usage taught by proficient Deaf signers.

Can I learn BSL from vocabulary pages alone?

No. Vocabulary pages can support revision, but they cannot replace interactive teaching. BSL grammar, turn-taking, spatial organisation, non-manual features and cultural context require sustained study and informed feedback.

Editorial approach

This educational guide is based on the embedded BSL demonstration and current public resources from UCL’s BSL SignBank, the British Deaf Association and Signature. It deliberately describes the example rather than presenting Lead Academy-created movement rules as universally definitive. No named Deaf specialist review is claimed. Learners should use source videos and qualified Deaf-led tuition for authoritative modelling and case-specific feedback.

Summary

In the form demonstrated here, the signer raises a relaxed open dominant hand beside the head or within the upper signing space, directs the palm generally outwards and makes a controlled side-to-side wave. Keep your face and hand visible, use non-manual features suited to the situation and do not automatically voice the English word.

Treat this description as an introduction rather than a universal prescription. BSL has regional and community variation, and written instructions cannot capture every linguistic detail. Compare recognised video examples and learn from a qualified Deaf BSL teacher to develop accurate, natural communication.