🚶
Person Walking
PUR-suhn WAW-king
Definitions
1
Activity · Movement
Very Common
Represents a person walking, typically used to indicate physical movement, travel on foot, or the act of leaving a location.
Often used to show commuting, exercise, or simply moving from one place to another.
Just finished my morning 🚶 around the neighborhood. So refreshing!
Social media post about exercise
Running late to the meeting, 🚶 as fast as I can!
Text message
That's it, I'm 🚶 out of this conversation.
Group chat disagreement
Walking symbolizes independence, progress, and sometimes contemplation across most cultures.
2
Emotional · Expression
Common
Metaphorically represents leaving a situation, distancing oneself from a conversation, or moving on from an idea or relationship.
Often used to express disengagement or departure in a figurative sense.
After what they said, I'm just gonna 🚶
Response to offensive content
When someone doesn't appreciate your efforts 🚶
Social media caption
The act of walking away carries strong emotional significance in digital communication, similar to physical departure in face-to-face interactions.
Evolution Timeline
2010
Introduction of the walking person emoji in Unicode 6.0.
Growing need to represent everyday human activities in digital communication.
2016
Evolved to include gender variations with walking woman and walking man emojis.
Push for gender inclusivity in emoji representation.
2019
Gained popularity in 'walking away' memes expressing disengagement from problematic situations.
Social media trend of using the emoji to represent emotional withdrawal.
Cultural Context
Walking carries different social connotations across cultures - a necessity in dense urban areas, a leisure activity in suburban communities, and a health practice in fitness-conscious societies.
Younger users often employ this emoji metaphorically to express 'walking away' from digital conversations or uncomfortable situations, while older users tend to use it literally.
The rise of fitness tracking apps has increased the use of this emoji in contexts related to step counting, walking challenges, and exercise goals.
The walking emoji often substitutes for verbs like 'leave,' 'depart,' or 'exit' in digital communication, showing how emojis can function grammatically as action words.
Regional Variations
Australia
Often paired with phrases like 'going for a walkabout' or 'taking a wander'.
United Kingdom
Often used in reference to 'going for a stroll' or 'having a wander' in British contexts.
United States
Often paired with phrases like 'walking out' or 'taking a walk' in American English contexts.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: Typically used literally to indicate walking activities or plans. Often appears in family group chats and Facebook posts.
Gen_Z: Often used metaphorically to express 'walking away' from drama or uncomfortable situations. Popular in TikTok and Instagram Stories.
Older: Less frequently used, but when employed, usually represents literal walking or exercise. Often appears in health-related contexts.
Millennials: Commonly used to indicate fitness activities, commuting, or work-life balance. Frequently appears in WhatsApp and workout app sharing.
Common Combinations
🚶💨
Walking quickly, rushing, or hurrying away from something.
Commonly used to show urgency or desire to leave a situation rapidly.
🚶🏙️
Urban walking, city commuting, or exploring a metropolitan area.
Represents urban lifestyle and pedestrian culture in cities.
🚶🌳
Walking in nature, hiking, or enjoying outdoor exercise.
Reflects growing interest in outdoor activities and nature appreciation.
🚶👋
Leaving, saying goodbye, or walking away from a situation.
Used to signal departure, often with emotional undertones.
🚶🚫
No walking allowed, pedestrian prohibition, or inability to walk.
Used in contexts about restrictions, disabilities, or warnings.