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Bouquet
boo-KAY
Definitions
1
Gifts Β· Celebration
Very Common
A decorative arrangement of flowers typically given as a gift to express congratulations, love, appreciation, or sympathy.
Used to mark special occasions, celebrations, or to express sentiments that warrant a floral gift.
Congratulations on your promotion! π
Text message
Happy anniversary to my wonderful husband! 15 years and counting πβ€οΈ
Social media post
Thank you to all our performers in tonight's recital π
Group chat
Flower bouquets carry significant symbolic weight across most cultures, with specific meanings often attached to different flower types and colors.
2
Sympathy Β· Support
Common
A symbol of condolence, support, or remembrance in contexts of loss, illness, or difficulty.
Often used in memorial posts or messages of sympathy, though less commonly than in celebratory contexts.
Thinking of you during this difficult time π
Condolence message
In loving memory of Grandma, five years today π
Memorial social media post
In Western cultures, bouquets serve dual purposes for both joyous occasions and expressions of sympathy.
Evolution Timeline
2010
Introduced in Unicode 6.0 as one of the earliest flower-related emojis.
Growing demand for celebratory and gift-related emoji symbols.
2015
Usage expanded beyond romance to include professional congratulations and achievements.
Broader adoption of emojis in workplace communication.
2020
Saw increased usage in memorial and sympathy messages during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Global health crisis prompting digital expressions of condolence.
Cultural Context
The bouquet emoji reflects the global tradition of giving flowers to mark significant life events, from celebrations to condolences.
Flower-giving traditions date back centuries across cultures, with the bouquet emoji digitizing this longstanding social practice.
In Western contexts, bouquets symbolize romance and celebration, while in many Asian cultures they also carry religious and ceremonial significance.
The bouquet's colorful, detailed design makes it one of the more visually consistent emojis across platforms compared to other flora.
Regional Variations
United Kingdom
More commonly used in formal congratulatory contexts and to mark achievements in arts and performance.
India
Frequently used for religious ceremonies, festivals, and formal congratulations.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: Primarily used for formal congratulations and sympathy messages. Often included in birthday wishes.
Gen_Z: Used ironically in memes about achievements. Often paired with sparkle emoji (β¨) on TikTok and Instagram.
Older: Used sparingly but deliberately, typically for significant life events like anniversaries, graduations, and condolences.
Millennials: Commonly used for genuine congratulations and in wedding or baby announcement responses on Facebook and Instagram.
Common Combinations
ππ
Congratulations on an achievement or special occasion.
Common in graduation, promotion, or award announcements.
πβ€οΈ
Romantic gift or gesture, often for anniversaries or Valentine's Day.
Universal symbol of romantic love and appreciation.
ππ
Thank you gift or gratitude with flowers.
Common in South Asian contexts for respectful thanks or blessings.
πποΈ
Sympathy flowers or memorial tribute.
Used in memorial posts or messages of condolence.
ππ°
Wedding bouquet or wedding congratulations.
Used in wedding-related messages and bridal shower contexts.