hand with fingers splayed: dark skin tone
Unicode: 1F590 1F3FF
Description
A hand with palm facing forward and thumb and pinky finger extended, similar to a surfer's 'shaka' sign, with dark skin tone.
Group:
People & Body > hand-fingers-open
Status:
fully-qualified
Emotion:
Often used to express 'hang loose', 'shaka bra', or general friendliness, positive vibes, and solidarity, popular in surfing and Hawaiian culture.
Backstory
The 'shaka' sign is believed to have originated in Hawaii, with several theories regarding its exact genesis, often linked to local legends or historical figures. It became a symbol of Hawaiian culture and hospitality, later adopted by the surfing community worldwide. The emoji for this gesture was introduced as part of Unicode 8.0 in 2015, recognizing its global informal usage and cultural significance in conveying a relaxed, friendly, and positive attitude. The addition of various skin tone modifiers (like 1F3FF for dark skin tone) in later Unicode versions (such as Unicode 8.0) allowed for greater representation and inclusivity.
Usage Examples
- Greeting friends in a relaxed way: 'Hey man, long time no see! 🤙🏾'
- Showing approval or good vibes: 'That's an awesome idea! 🤙🏾'
- Expressing solidarity or 'hang loose' attitude: 'Just chilling on the beach today. 🤙🏾'
- In response to good news: 'Awesome! 🤙🏾'
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Widely recognized as the 'hang loose' or 'shaka' sign, particularly associated with surfing, Hawaii, and beach culture. It conveys a sense of relaxed greeting, peace, or good spirits. Less formally, it can also be used as an informal 'hello' or 'goodbye' among friends.
East Asian culture:
While the gesture itself might be recognized as a 'shaka', its specific cultural connotations (like surfing or Hawaii) might not be as universally understood as in Western cultures. It might be interpreted as a more general positive hand gesture or a specific signal among certain groups.
Other cultures (e.g., Brazil):
In Brazil, it is commonly known as 'Tamo junto' (We are together) or 'brotherhood' sign, expressing unity, friendship, or agreement, especially within certain social circles or sports communities.