curly loop

Unicode: 27B0

Description

A white spiral symbol, rotating clockwise.

Group:

Symbols > other-symbol

Status:

fully-qualified

Emotion:

Typically expresses dizziness, confusion, hypnosis, or a sense of being 'mind-blown' or overwhelmed. It can also represent a vortex, spiritual enlightenment, or a spinning motion.

Backstory

The spiral symbol has ancient roots, appearing in various cultures globally as a representation of growth, evolution, and connection to the universe. In digital communication, particularly in manga and anime, it became a common visual shorthand for dizziness or hypnotic states, leading to its inclusion in emoji sets.

Usage Examples

  • Feeling dizzy: 'Rode a roller coaster, now I'm 🌀'
  • Hypnotized: 'That song has me completely 🌀'
  • Confused: 'I'm trying to understand this, but my brain is just 🌀'
  • Overwhelmed: 'So much information, my head is spinning 🌀'

Cultural Differences

Western culture:

Often used to convey dizziness, disorientation, or being heavily influenced (e.g., 'spun around').

East Asian culture:

Can represent dizziness or confusion, similar to Western use. Sometimes used playfully to indicate someone is 'lost in thought' or 'spaced out'.