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envelope

Unicode: 2709 FE0F

Description

A white envelope, typically shown with a small red heart on the flap.

Group:

Objects > mail

Status:

fully-qualified

Emotion:

Often conveys feelings of love, affection, romance, or sending a personal message filled with warmth. It can be used to signify a love letter or a message coming from the heart.

Backstory

The 'Envelope' (U+2709) symbol has been part of Unicode since version 1.1 (1993). The 'heart' variant, combining it with Variation Selector-16 (VS16, U+FE0F) to force emoji style and often rendered with a heart, became popular to specifically denote a 'love letter' or 'heartfelt message' in digital communication.

Usage Examples

  • Sending a love message: 'Thinking of you! 💌'
  • Expressing romantic feelings: 'This song reminds me of our first date 💌'
  • Inviting someone to a special event: 'You're invited to our anniversary party! 💌'
  • Sending a heartfelt thank you: 'Thank you for everything! 💌'

Cultural Differences

Western culture:

Frequently used to express sending love, romantic greetings, or a heartfelt message.

East Asian culture:

Similar usage, often associated with affectionate communication or expressing deeper feelings through a written medium, even if digitally.