Emoji are a hugely popular form of language that people use every day. Those small cartoon images can often express feelings that text just cannot, regardless of whether it’s in a message to a friend or a business email.

So why the need for emoji localisation?

Although emoji are images, there still exists differences in their use and meanings across languages and cultures. Therefore, it is important that any emoji translation is accurate and culturally correct.

Here are five examples of emoji that have different meanings in different countries:

Slightly Smiling Face 🙂

For most, the slight smiling face conveys the emotion of simple happiness. It is widely used in moments of joy and positivity.

BUT…

In China, this emoji takes on a more ironic tone. It is used to express sarcastic laughter and can be taken to be passive aggressive.

Thumbs Up 👍

Feeling good and need a physical way to express it without using your face? Sticking a thumb up is the perfect embodiment of this emotion.

BUT…

In certain West African and Middle Eastern countries, giving a thumbs up can be the equivalent of a middle finger. It is the physical rendition of saying “up yours”.

Pile of Poo 💩

This emoji can be fairly self-explanatory and rarely needs further justification.

BUT…

In Japan, the smiling pile of excrement is used as a way to say “good luck”. The word for poo in Japanese is “unko” and contains “un”, which sounds exactly like the word for luck.

Sign of the Horns 🤘

An emoji often seen in relation to rock and metal music, the sign of the horns expresses love and enthusiasm for almost any subject matter.

BUT…

In many Latin and Mediterranean countries, being horned is an insult. It implies that the recipient of the emoji is the victim of cuckoldry.

Eggplant 🍆

The humble aubergine is an oft-overlooked vegetable. It has properties that make it a perfect vessel on which to practice the culinary arts.

BUT…

For many around the world, it represents one thing and one thing only: the primary male sexual organ. The reasons for this should be obvious.

While navigating through the nuances of emoji localisation may be challenging, the Prestige Family has members from every corner of the world. This gives you the most accurate and reliable possible transcreation for your project.

To find out more, contact our team directly and get your project started.