person wearing turban
Unicode: 1F473
Description
A gender-neutral or unspecified adult emoji, often depicted as a gray-haired, stern-looking person, frequently associated with elderly figures or authority.
Group:
People & Body > person-role
Status:
fully-qualified
Emotion:
Can convey a sense of wisdom, old age, strictness, or sometimes a neutral, grandparent-like figure. Its emotional interpretation is highly context-dependent.
Backstory
This emoji was introduced in Unicode 6.0 (2010). Its gender-neutral representation allows for versatility, moving beyond specific male or female elder stereotypes. It fills a space for representing older individuals in digital communication.
Usage Examples
- Referring to an elderly person: 'My grandpa told me a story 👴👵.' (Note: often paired with specific gendered elders, but 🧑🦳 is another option)
- Indicating wisdom or experience: 'He's got a lot of experience, like an old hand 👴.'
- Humorous context for feeling old: 'Woke up with a backache, feeling 👴 today.'
- Generic older adult: 'The new neighbor is 👴.' (Note: more commonly seen as a general elderly person than a specific 'old man')
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Often used to represent elderly people, grandparents, or sometimes a 'wise' figure. Can also be used to imply someone is old-fashioned or out of touch.
East Asian culture:
May be used more neutrally for older adults or in contexts where an existing elder is referenced, without necessarily implying sternness.