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Archive Replay
Thursday, December 18, 2025
Sign of the Day
help
Dominant hand supports non-dominant hand, showing aid. Inflects directionally
A1 Very Common Verb British Sign Language (BSL) Neutral
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Dominant A-hand or open B-hand, non-dominant flat B-hand
Dominant hand moves upwards underneath the non-dominant hand
General use for offering or requesting aid
Break It Down
Watch, build, and feel the movement
Use the numbered steps first, then check the sign anatomy cards to clean up the small details that make the sign look fluent instead of approximate.
How to form the sign
- Form a flat B-hand with non-dominant hand, palm down
- Position dominant A-hand (thumb up) underneath non-dominant hand's palm
- Move dominant hand slightly upwards, lifting non-dominant hand
- Can be repeated or inflected for direction
Coach prompt
Practice signing 'help' with directional inflection
Signature details
Handshape
Dominant A-hand or open B-hand, non-dominant flat B-hand · Code Dominant A-hand, Non-dominant B-hand
Dominant hand
Either
Symmetry
Asymmetric
Contact
Touch
Palm orientation
Dominant palm up, non-dominant palm down
Eyebrows
Neutral
Eye gaze
Forward
Head movement
None
Mouth morpheme
None
Body shift
None
Use It Today
Move from recognition to real-life use
Everything below is designed to make the sign sticky: where it feels natural, what learners miss, and how to use it without sounding robotic.
Can you help me? | I need help
Directional, meaning 'help me', 'help you', 'help them' through movement
Best fit: General use for offering or requesting aid
Mirror focus
Practice signing 'help' with directional inflection
Catch the slip
Ensure clear handshapes and directional movement for accurate meaning
Use it today
Can you help me? | I need help
Common mistakes: Confusing with 'give' or 'support' if handshapes are not precise
When not to use it: When referring to financial support only
Regional note: Slight variations in handshape or specific movement exist
Cultural note: None
1.[en] Can you help me? / BSL:[Dominant hand moves towards self]
2.[en] I will help you. / BSL:[Dominant hand moves towards other]
3.[en] They helped us. / BSL:[Dominant hand moves from other towards signer]
What is the BSL sign for help?
The BSL sign for 'help' involves the dominant hand supporting or lifting the non-dominant hand, symbolizing assistance. It's a two-handed sign.
How do you sign help in BSL?
Place your non-dominant flat hand (palm down) at your mid-torso. Position your dominant A-hand (thumb up) underneath it, palm up. Move the dominant hand upwards, lifting the non-dominant hand slightly.
Is help one-handed or two-handed in BSL?
The most common and standard BSL sign for 'help' is two-handed. One hand acts as the supported entity, and the other hand provides the supportive action from underneath.
What handshape is used for help in BSL?
Typically, the non-dominant hand forms a flat B-hand (palm down), while the dominant hand forms an A-hand (fist with thumb extended up) and is positioned palm up underneath the non-dominant hand.
How does help differ from similar signs in BSL?
It differs from 'give' (which often uses a flat B-hand moving away) by its supportive lifting action. It's distinct from 'support' (which may involve bracing or holding up) by the specific upward motion and handshapes. The directional nature is key for 'help'.
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Word web
Assist
support
aid
contribute
Hinder
obstruct
neglect
impede
Assistance
support
favour
rescue
contribute
Assist
Support
Aid
The BSL sign for 'help' (dominant A-hand pushing up non-dominant B-hand) differs from 'GIVE' (typically a dominant B-hand moving away from the body) by its specific supportive movement and initial contact. It's also distinct from 'SUPPORT' (which might involve both hands bracing an imaginary object or person from below, or a single hand bracing) as 'help' specifically denotes active assistance rather than passive bracing. The handshapes and the upward, lifting motion are crucial for 'help'
Support
assistance
aid
contribution
Help BSL
BSL help
sign for help
assist BSL
support
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