๐
Purple Heart
PUR-puhl hahrt
Definitions
1
Emotional ยท Affection
Very Common
Expresses love, affection, and deep emotional connection, often with romantic overtones but can also signify platonic love and support.
Commonly used to show support, compassion, or solidarity, especially in emotional contexts.
I'm so proud of you for getting that job! ๐
Text message of support
Sending healing vibes your way ๐
Social media comment during illness
Purple hearts often convey a more thoughtful or creative love than red hearts, associated with spirituality and depth of feeling.
2
Fandom ยท Community
Common
Represents fan loyalty, particularly for BTS (K-pop group) whose official color is purple, symbolizing the long-lasting bond between the group and fans.
Used extensively in K-pop fan communities to show devotion and connection to artists.
BTS just dropped their new album and I can't stop crying ๐๐๐
Fan tweet
ARMY forever ๐ #BTSConcert
Instagram caption
The phrase 'I purple you' originated from BTS member V, meaning 'I will trust and love you for a long time.'
3
Military ยท Honor
Uncommon
References the Purple Heart medal awarded to US military personnel wounded or killed in service, symbolizing respect and honor for veterans.
Used in contexts honoring military service, sacrifice, and remembrance.
Honoring all who served and sacrificed for our freedom ๐
Memorial Day social media post
This usage is most common around Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and in military communities.
Evolution Timeline
2016
BTS member V coined 'I purple you' phrase, dramatically increasing the emoji's usage globally.
K-pop's international expansion and social media fan engagement.
2017
Purple Heart emoji became strongly associated with BTS ARMY fandom worldwide.
Fan adoption of purple as BTS's official color.
2019
Usage expanded beyond K-pop into general expressions of deep emotional support.
Mainstream adoption of emoji patterns from fan communities.
Cultural Context
The phrase 'I purple you' has entered global lexicon through K-pop, creating a new color-based emotional expression similar to 'I red you' (passion) or 'I blue you' (sadness).
Purple's historical associations with royalty and luxury transfer to this emoji, giving it a sense of special or elevated affection compared to the more common red heart.
Gen Z users often employ this emoji without romantic connotations, using it instead to express deep friendship and emotional support between friends.
The Purple Heart military decoration connection gives this emoji dual meaning in American contexts, representing both affection and respect for sacrifice.
Regional Variations
South Korea
Strongly associated with BTS and their 'I purple you' phrase, which has created a cultural phenomenon around this emoji.
United States
Strong association with both BTS fandom and military honors, with seasonal increases around Veterans Day and Memorial Day.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: Less frequent usage, primarily for expressing support during difficult times or appreciation for creative achievements.
Gen_Z: Primary association with BTS and K-pop fandoms. Often used for platonic love between friends and to show emotional support.
Older: Rarely used except by those with military connections, who may use it to honor Purple Heart recipients.
Millennials: Used for spiritual connections, creative pursuits, and to express deeper or more thoughtful love than the red heart.
Common Combinations
๐โจ
Spiritual or magical love, often used for mystical connections or soulmate references.
Popular in New Age and spiritual communities to express cosmic connections.
๐๐ค
Alternative or edgy love, often used by those with gothic or alternative aesthetics.
Popular in alternative subcultures and among younger users expressing non-traditional romance.
๐๐๐
Intense BTS fan love or deep emotional support, with multiple hearts amplifying the sentiment.
Particularly common in K-pop fan communities to show strong devotion.
๐๐
Spiritual support or prayers with compassion, often used during difficult times.
Common in wellness communities and spiritual contexts for expressing empathetic support.
Related Emojis
โค๏ธ
Red heart represents more traditional or passionate love compared to purple's spiritual depth.
๐
Blue heart often used for friendship, making it a close alternative with slightly different emotional tone.
๐ฎ
Both associated with mysticism, spirituality and the color purple.
โจ
Frequently combined with purple heart in spiritual contexts and fan expressions.