old man
Unicode: 1F474
Description
An emoji representing an old man, typically depicted with wrinkles, possibly a bald head, and sometimes glasses, signifying age or wisdom.
Group:
People & Body > person
Status:
fully-qualified
Emotion:
Typically represents age, wisdom, experience, or sometimes a paternal figure. Can also be used to express a sense of 'old-school' or traditional values.
Backstory
This emoji was introduced in Unicode 6.0 (2010) as part of a set of human emojis, providing a diverse range of age and gender representations. It is a straightforward depiction of an elderly man.
Usage Examples
- Referring to an older relative: 'My grandpa always tells the best stories 👴'
- Indicating wisdom or experience: 'He's been in the business for 50 years, total 👴'
- Humorously implying old age: 'I felt like an 👴 trying to understand that new TikTok trend.'
- Referring to historical figures or traditions: 'Going back to the foundational principles, like the 👴 masters taught.'
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Often used to represent a grandfather figure, someone wise or experienced, or simply indicating an older person. Sometimes used humorously to imply 'getting old.'
East Asian culture:
Can represent respect for elders, tradition, or a patriarch. Less commonly used informally among younger generations compared to other emojis.