ghost
Unicode: 1F47B
Description
A cartoon ghost, typically white or light blue, with a rounded bottom and a pointed top, usually featuring two black circles for eyes and a small, open mouth.
Group:
Smileys & Emotion > face-costume
Status:
fully-qualified
Emotion:
Often represents spooky, playful, and sometimes cute or mischievous feelings. Can be used for Halloween, hauntings, or lighthearted joking.
Backstory
The ghost emoji was introduced in Unicode 6.0 (2010). Its design is a simplified, friendly representation of a ghost, making it suitable for a wide range of contexts beyond just fear, including cuteness and playfulness.
Usage Examples
- Halloween messages: 'Happy Halloween! 👻🎃'
- Something disappearing: 'My motivation just vanished! 👻'
- Playful fright: 'That jump scare got me! 👻'
- Cuteness/friendly ghost: 'Aww, that's a cute little ghost! 👻'
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Strongly associated with Halloween, ghosts, haunted houses, and spooky but often friendly themes.
East Asian culture:
Can also be associated with ghosts and spirits, but sometimes used more broadly for playful pranks or to represent something 'disappearing' or 'gone'.