Wondering exactly what it means when you see a ๐ŸŒˆ (rainbow) emoji? Whether you see this symbol on social media, in someoneโ€™s bio, or in a text, the cheery ๐ŸŒˆ adds a pop of color you canโ€™t ignore. Weโ€™ll dive into the multiple meanings of the ๐ŸŒˆ emoji and guide you through exactly how to use and interpret this popular symbol.

Section 1 of 3:

๐ŸŒˆ (Rainbow) Emoji Meanings and Usage

  1. 1
    People often use the rainbow emoji to express happiness. The vibrant colors of the emoji reflect positivity and joy. Try using a rainbow emoji the next time you feel thrilled, content, or hopeful about life.[1]
    • โ€œYay! I canโ€™t wait to see you ๐ŸŒˆ๐Ÿ’ฏ๐Ÿ˜Šโ€
    • โ€œThatโ€™s it. Today was officially the best day of my life ๐ŸŒˆ๐Ÿคฉโ€
  2. 2
    Rainbow emojis are closely associated with luck. This association likely comes from the old Irish tale describing how a leprechaun hid a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.[2] Feeling lucky? Add the rainbow emoji whenever you want to express your good fortune.
    • โ€œPhew, they canceled the test! ๐ŸŽ‰๐ŸŒˆ๐ŸŽ‰โ€
    • โ€œScored courtside tickets to the Lakersโ€™ game ๐Ÿ˜Ž๐ŸŒˆโ€
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  3. 3
    Rainbow emojis are also a symbol of harmony, love, and togetherness. You can drop a rainbow emoji into a post or message if you want to convey friendship and camaraderie. The next time youโ€™re feeling the love, try out one of these approaches.[3]
    • โ€œWe really came together as a team at the last second. Iโ€™ll miss you all ๐ŸŒˆ๐Ÿค—.โ€
    • โ€œWishing you nothing but peace and love. ๐ŸŒˆโ€
  4. 4
    The rainbow emoji can represent beautiful weather. In some cases, people may use a rainbow emoji when they see a literal rainbow. Or, they might simply use a ๐ŸŒˆ to express that itโ€™s a nice day out.
    • Literal usage: โ€œI canโ€™t believe I just saw a ๐ŸŒˆ๐ŸŒˆ all the way across the sky.โ€
    • Metaphorical usage: โ€œItโ€™s finally summer! โ˜€๏ธ๐ŸŒˆ๐Ÿฆโ€
  5. 5
    The rainbow emoji is commonly used as a symbol of the LGBTQ+ community. Some people might add a ๐ŸŒˆ into their social media bio to self-identify as queer. Alternatively, you can use the rainbow emoji to express pride and support for the queer community or parts of queer culture.
    • โ€œIโ€™m Katie! Iโ€™m from Seattle and I use she/her pronouns. ๐ŸŒˆโ€
    • โ€œProud to be married to this one, even if heโ€™s a terrible cook ๐ŸŒˆ๐Ÿ‘จโ€โค๏ธโ€๐Ÿ’‹โ€๐Ÿ‘จโ€
    • โ€œWatched Season 2 of Euphoria in 2 days. Letโ€™s go!!! ๐ŸŒˆโ€
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Section 2 of 3:

How to Respond to the ๐ŸŒˆ (Rainbow) Emoji

  1. 1
    Send back a positive comment if someoneโ€™s using ๐ŸŒˆ to express joy. Whenever someone uses the rainbow emoji to show that theyโ€™re feeling happy or lucky, keep the good vibes going. You can add a happy emoji like a ๐Ÿ˜ (grinning face with smiling eyes) or โญ (star) to emphasize your comment.
    • Them: โ€œGot the last cookie before they sold out ๐ŸŒˆโ€
    • You: โ€œYouโ€™re my hero! ๐Ÿ˜โ€
  2. 2
    Join in the enthusiasm if someoneโ€™s talking about the weather. If you get a message about a real-life rainbow, let the other person know that you appreciate the natural beauty too.
    • Them: "Did you see the pic I sent? Huge rainbows! ๐ŸŒˆ๐ŸŒˆ"
    • You: โ€œThanks for sharing. I just got to relive the โ€˜Double Rainbowโ€™ meme ๐Ÿ˜‚โ€
  3. 3
    Show your support if someoneโ€™s using the rainbow emoji to identify as LGBTQ+. If you get a rainbow emoji in a text, the sender might be expressing pride and affiliation with the queer community. This is especially true if they have a ๐ŸŒˆ or ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ emoji in their social media bio. If you also identify as queer, try sending a rainbow back in solidarity. If you donโ€™t identify as queer, feel free to continue the conversation as you normally would.
    • Them: โ€œHey, itโ€™s Karl ๐ŸŒˆโ€
    • You: โ€œHey! ๐ŸŒˆ What are you up to?โ€
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Section 3 of 3:

Related Emojis: The ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ (Rainbow Flag) Emoji

  1. The rainbow flag emoji symbolizes LGBTQ+ pride or identity.[4] You can use the ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ emoji to show you identify as LGBTQ+ or to voice your support for the community. Similarly, you can use the ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ emoji to emphasize and celebrate elements of queer culture.
    • Using the emoji as self-identification: โ€œHey all! Iโ€™m Xander and I use they/them pronouns. ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆโ€
    • Using the emoji to voice allyship or support: โ€œEndlessly proud of all my ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ friends.โ€
    • Using the emoji to celebrate queer culture: โ€œJust went to a Demi Lovato concert. Wow. ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆโ€

About This Article

Kira Jan
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Kira Jan. Kira Jan earned her B.A. in English from Stanford University in 2021. She has published work in a variety of literary magazines and edited for bestselling authors. Kira now writes and edits for the content team at wikiHow with the goal of reaching audiences of all backgrounds, skillsets, and interests. She enjoys continually learning alongside wikiHow readers and working to create connection through the written word. This article has been viewed 29,148 times.
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Co-authors: 6
Updated: March 21, 2022
Views:ย 29,148
Categories: Emoticons and Emojis
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