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BSL SignBank
What BSL SignBank is
BSL SignBank is a free online British Sign Language (BSL) dictionary and lexical database associated with the UCL DCAL Research Centre. Look up signs with an English keyword or browse alphabetically, then watch video clips showing how each sign looks. You can also explore signs by handshape or location; researchers may register to request advanced search features. Entries draw on the BSL Corpus and Brien’s 1992 Dictionary of British Sign Language/English. The corpus includes signing from 249 deaf people across eight UK locations, and the site provides regional information for signs about colours, numbers, countries and UK place names.
Other resources include a two-handed BSL manual alphabet and a quiz covering signs for colours, countries and UK place names, including where signs are used in the UK. Typed letters can be played at slow, medium or fast speed. The mobile version opens in a phone browser and can be bookmarked. SignBank presents signs neutrally, without mouthing or particular facial expressions, and does not offer BSL-to-English search. It is a dictionary resource rather than a stand-alone language course; the site recommends learning through interaction with BSL users and/or a course.
Who it suits
BSL SignBank suits people looking up signs, including researchers who want to browse by English keyword, alphabet, handshape or location. Its video entries, fingerspelling resource and regional information can also support learners alongside interaction with BSL users or a course.
What it does well
- Free access to a BSL dictionary and lexical database.
- Search by English keyword or browse alphabetically.
- Browse signs by handshape and/or location.
- Video clips show how signs look.
- Fingerspelling playback offers slow, medium and fast speeds.
- Regional information covers several sign categories and UK place names.
What to know first
- No BSL-to-English search function.
- The corpus covers eight UK locations; other areas may be absent.
- Entries show signs without mouthing or particular facial expressions.
- The site is not intended as a stand-alone language-learning tool.
Limits
The free resource is mostly dictionary-form information and is not designed to teach BSL on its own. Its corpus covers eight UK locations, signs from elsewhere in the UK may be missing, and it does not provide BSL-to-English search.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| BSL SignBank | Free resource; information on BSL signs, mostly in the form of a dictionary | Free |
As bslsignbank.ucl.ac.uk lists them, read 9 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open https://bslsignbank.ucl.ac.uk/ in a web browser.
- Search using an English keyword or browse signs alphabetically, by handshape or by location.
- Open a video entry to see how a sign looks.
- Use the fingerspelling resource or quiz for additional practice.
- Open the mobile version in a phone browser and bookmark it if useful.
- Researchers can register to request advanced search features.
Verdict
Choose BSL SignBank to look up BSL signs with video, explore regional variants, or use its fingerspelling and quiz resources. Researchers can register to request advanced search features. Learners seeking a complete course should pair it with interaction with BSL users and/or a course.
Questions
Does BSL SignBank cost anything?
It is a free resource, with a listed price of $0.
What can I use to search for signs?
You can search with an English keyword or browse alphabetically, by handshape and/or location. There is no BSL-to-English search function.
Can I watch signs?
Yes. Dictionary entries use video clips to show what signs look like.
Does it work on a phone?
The mobile version can be opened in a phone browser and bookmarked.
Who is behind BSL SignBank?
The site identifies it with the UCL DCAL Research Centre.
Can it teach me BSL by itself?
No. The site says it is not designed as a stand-alone language-learning tool and recommends interaction with BSL users and/or a course.
Facts from BSL SignBank's own pages
- Additional vocabulary
- The site says its entries come from the BSL Corpus or Brien’s 1992 Dictionary of British Sign Language/English. · bslsignbank.ucl.ac.uk, 9 Oct 2026
- Corpus basis
- The dictionary is based on signs used by deaf people in the BSL Corpus, which contains signing from 249 deaf people across eight UK sites. · bslsignbank.ucl.ac.uk, 9 Oct 2026
- Corpus coverage
- The BSL Corpus cited by the site contains signing from 249 deaf people across eight UK locations. · bslsignbank.ucl.ac.uk, 9 Oct 2026
- Coverage limitation
- The FAQ says the corpus covers eight UK sites and that signs from other parts of the UK may not be included. · bslsignbank.ucl.ac.uk, 9 Oct 2026
- Dictionary limitation
- The FAQ says signs are shown neutrally without mouthing or a particular facial expression, and that there is no BSL-to-English search function yet. · bslsignbank.ucl.ac.uk, 9 Oct 2026
- Fingerspelling
- The fingerspelling resource shows the two-handed BSL manual alphabet and can play typed letters at slow, medium or fast speed. · bslsignbank.ucl.ac.uk, 9 Oct 2026
- Free access
- The learning page describes SignBank as a free resource with information on BSL signs, mostly in dictionary form. · bslsignbank.ucl.ac.uk, 9 Oct 2026
- Learning limitation
- The site says SignBank is not designed to be a stand-alone language-learning tool and recommends interaction with BSL users and/or a course. · bslsignbank.ucl.ac.uk, 9 Oct 2026
- Learning resources
- The home page links to BSL learning resources, videos of Deaf people using BSL and a quiz on signs for colours, numbers, countries and UK place names. · bslsignbank.ucl.ac.uk, 9 Oct 2026
- Maker
- The site identifies BSL SignBank with the UCL DCAL Research Centre. · bslsignbank.ucl.ac.uk, 9 Oct 2026
- Mobile access
- The site says its mobile view adjusts to a phone browser and that users can bookmark the site; it says an app may be considered if demand is sufficient. · bslsignbank.ucl.ac.uk, 9 Oct 2026
- Mouth patterns and facial expressions
- The FAQ says the dictionary presents signs neutrally without mouthing or particular facial expressions. · bslsignbank.ucl.ac.uk, 9 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- BSL SignBank is an online British Sign Language dictionary and lexical database for researchers. · bslsignbank.ucl.ac.uk, 9 Oct 2026
- Quiz
- The quiz tests users on BSL signs for colours, countries and UK place names, including where signs are used in the UK. · bslsignbank.ucl.ac.uk, 9 Oct 2026
- Regional information
- The site offers regional information about signs for colours, numbers, countries and UK place names. · bslsignbank.ucl.ac.uk, 9 Oct 2026
- Regional signs
- The site offers regional information about signs for colours, numbers, countries and UK place names. · bslsignbank.ucl.ac.uk, 9 Oct 2026
- Search
- Users can search for signs with an English keyword or browse alphabetically. · bslsignbank.ucl.ac.uk, 9 Oct 2026
- Sign feature search
- Users can browse signs by handshape and/or location. · bslsignbank.ucl.ac.uk, 9 Oct 2026
- Support
- The site provides a Help/FAQ link and lists [email protected] as its contact email. · bslsignbank.ucl.ac.uk, 9 Oct 2026
- Video entries
- UCL describes the dictionary as using video clips to show what each sign looks like. · ucl.ac.uk, 9 Oct 2026
Where BSL SignBank stands on Freedom251
- Sign Language Apps#13 of 34