flying saucer
Unicode: 1F6F8
Description
A dark blue or black saucer-shaped craft, often depicted with a dome on top and lights or windows along its rim. It is commonly associated with extraterrestrial visitation and advanced technology.
Group:
Travel & Places > transport-air
Status:
fully-qualified
Emotion:
Typically evokes wonder, curiosity, excitement, or sometimes fear and mystery due to its association with the unknown and alien life.
Backstory
This emoji was introduced in Unicode 8.0 (2015), along with other space-related emojis. It represents the popular cultural concept of an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO), often specifically the 'flying saucer' design that became iconic in the mid-20th century.
Usage Examples
- Discussing science fiction: 'Did you see the new alien movie? 🛸'
- Talking about unexplained phenomena: 'Another UFO sighting reported last night! 🛸'
- Expressing a feeling of being 'spaced out' or mysterious: 'Feeling a bit out of this world today... 🛸'
- Referring to something futuristic or advanced: 'This new gadget is so advanced, it's like something from a spaceship! 🛸'
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Strongly linked to science fiction, alien invasion narratives, and conspiracy theories about UFO sightings and Area 51. Represents advanced technology, extraterrestrial life, and cosmic exploration.
East Asian culture:
Also recognized as a UFO, but may sometimes appear in a more whimsical or fantastical context in popular culture, less strictly tied to 'invasion' narratives and more to general 'space' or 'future' themes.