The brown heart emoji 🤎 means love and affection like other hearts, with a strong link to solidarity and racial identity. Dictionary.com notes supporters of Black Lives Matter often use it to show solidarity with Black people and other people of colour. Emojipedia's research also found it used for food and drink like chocolate and coffee.
The brown heart is one of the newest hearts on the keyboard and, by Emojipedia's count, the least used. But it carries some of the most specific meanings of any heart. Here's when it arrived, what it says and how people use it.
A heart that arrived with a square and a circle
Emojipedia says Brown Heart was approved as part of Unicode 12.0 in 2019 and added to Emoji 12.0 the same year. Emoji 12.0 was the first set of new emojis approved for release in 2019, with 230 new emojis in total. The Unicode emoji test file lists it as code point 1F90E.
Its arrival had a tidy reason behind it. Emojipedia's heart research says it was added in an effort to standardise which coloured shapes are available, arriving alongside 🟫 Brown Square and 🟤 Brown Circle. So unlike the red heart, which has been around for decades, the brown heart came as part of a colour set.
Solidarity and identity
Dictionary.com says supporters of Black Lives Matter often use the brown heart in usernames and posts on social media to show solidarity with Black people and other people of colour in the fight for racial equality and justice. That's one of its clearest and most recognised meanings.
Emojipedia's data supports this. In its analysis of heart emojis on Twitter, it found that while 81.5% of the top 200 terms used with the brown heart were shared with the red heart, the differences mostly related to discussions of racial identity, with words like 'black', 'brown', 'skin' and 'color'. Its summary describes the brown heart as commonly used to discuss topics related to racial identity.
Coffee, chocolate and cosy things
Here's the lighter side. Emojipedia's same analysis found phrases about food and drink, specifically 'chocolate' and 'coffee', among the terms that set the brown heart apart. So you'll also see 🤎 next to a latte photo, a hot chocolate on a cold day or a slice of chocolate cake.
| Where you see 🤎 | What it usually means | Clue |
|---|---|---|
| Usernames and activism posts | Solidarity and pride | Dictionary.com, BLM usage |
| Posts about skin tone and identity | Representation, self-love | Emojipedia's term analysis |
| Coffee and chocolate posts | Cosy warmth | Emojipedia found these terms |
| Autumn and earthy aesthetics | Warm, natural tones | Colour association |
| In a row of hearts | Love for everyone | Paired with other colours |
The least used heart
Emojipedia's heart research says the most popular heart on Twitter was the red heart, and the least popular was the brown heart. It adds that, despite being the least used, it has its own distinct uses. That rarity is part of why 🤎 stands out. When someone picks it on purpose, it usually means something.
It also turns up in rainbow rows of hearts. Emojipedia's list of emojis most often seen next to 🤎 is led by other hearts, including the white, yellow, orange and green hearts. In that context, it's part of a message of love to everyone.
Brown heart vs other hearts
Like the other coloured hearts, 🤎 can simply mean love and affection. Dictionary.com says it can convey love and other strong, positive feelings, just like the red and blue hearts. The difference is the extra layer of meaning around identity and solidarity, and the cosy food-and-drink use. If you're not sure which meaning someone intended, look at the rest of the post.
These are made-up messages to show how 🤎 is used, not real posts:
- 'Proud of where I come from 🤎' Identity and pride.
- 'Monday needs coffee ☕🤎' Cosy and caffeinated.
- 'Love you all 🤍🤎🖤' Love for everyone.
- 'Autumn wardrobe sorted 🍂🤎' Earthy tones.
Skin tone and the brown heart
People sometimes ask whether the brown heart is meant to represent a skin tone. It wasn't designed as one. Emojipedia's research says it was added to standardise coloured shapes, alongside a brown square and brown circle, not as part of the skin tone modifiers used on hand and people emojis.
But meaning is shaped by use, and Emojipedia's own data shows people do use it to talk about racial identity and skin colour. So while it isn't a skin tone emoji in the technical sense, many people treat it as a symbol of pride and representation. That's a good example of how emoji meanings grow beyond what their designers planned.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
It also works on its own as a simple warm colour. Some people choose it because they like earthy, natural tones in their feeds, or because brown is a favourite colour. As with every heart, the sender is your best guide to what they meant.
Using the brown heart thoughtfully
Because the brown heart carries meaning around race and identity, it's worth using it with care. Sending it to show support, pride or love is common and welcome. Using it casually in a way that seems to borrow that meaning without understanding it can land badly.
For brands, 🤎 works naturally in posts about coffee, chocolate, autumn or earthy design, and in sincere messages of support. If you're posting about racial justice, make sure the post backs up the emoji with something real, such as a clear statement or action. An emoji on its own can feel hollow if there's nothing behind it. You'll find more on how hearts rank in our guide to the most popular emojis.
Frequently asked questions
Is the brown heart a skin tone emoji?
Not technically. Emojipedia says it was added to standardise coloured shapes, though many people use it for identity and pride.
What does the brown heart emoji mean?
It means love and affection, often with a link to solidarity and racial identity.
When was the brown heart emoji added?
Emojipedia says it was approved in Unicode 12.0 in 2019 and added to Emoji 12.0 that year.
Why was the brown heart created?
Emojipedia says it was added to standardise coloured shapes, alongside a brown square and brown circle.
Is the brown heart used for Black Lives Matter?
Yes. Dictionary.com says supporters often use it to show solidarity.
Is the brown heart the least popular heart?
Emojipedia's research found it was the least popular heart on Twitter.
Why do people use the brown heart for coffee?
Emojipedia found coffee and chocolate among the terms that set it apart from other hearts.
