folded hands: medium-light skin tone
Unicode: 1F64F 1F3FC
Description
An emoji depicting clasped hands, typically used to represent prayer or a plea. The 1F3FC part indicates a light skin tone.
Group:
People & Body > hands
Status:
fully-qualified
Emotion:
Commonly expresses gratitude, hope, reverence, or a plea. It can also signify thanks, respect, or a wish.
Backstory
The folded hands emoji (🙏) was approved as part of Unicode 6.0 in 2010. Its various skin tone modifiers were added later to represent more diversity in emoji usage. The gesture itself is widely recognized across many cultures, though its specific meaning can vary from prayer to giving thanks or offering respect.
Usage Examples
- Expressing thanks: 'Thank you so much for your help! 🙏🏼'
- Making a wish: 'Fingers crossed for good news! 🙏🏼'
- Showing respect: 'Respect to the original artists 🙏🏼'
- Pleading: 'Please, just one more chance 🙏🏼'
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Frequently used to express prayer, gratitude ('thank you'), or making a wish. Can also symbolize 'please' or 'begging'.
East Asian culture:
Often signifies a bow or 'namaste' gesture, indicating respect, thanks, or greeting, especially in spiritual contexts. Less commonly associated with solely 'prayer' than in Western contexts.