Pray and folded hands emoji
Copy the folded hands π in every skin tone, and settle the old question: prayer, please, thank you, or a high five?
Published Β· Updated
What π means (and the high-five myth)
π is officially the folded hands, and Unicodeβs own description lists prayer, thanks and a request among its meanings. In daily use it covers please, thank you, I hope so, bless you, sending prayers, and in Japan, where the gesture originates in emoji, a bow of apology or gratitude. It is one of the most used emoji in condolence and support messages.
The high-five reading comes from early artwork that showed two hands with a glow that looked like a slap. Almost every platform now draws clearly pressed palms, and the character has never meant high five in the standard. If you send it as a high five, most people will read it as thanks or a prayer. For an actual high five, π (raising hands) or β are closer.
Compare the options
| Emoji | Name | Use it for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| folded handsU+1F64F | Please, thank you, hope, prayer, condolence | Not a high five, whatever the old artwork suggested | |
| raising handsU+1F64C | Celebration, βyes!β, praise | The nearest thing to a high five | |
| palms up togetherU+1F932 | Palms up: offering, receiving, dua in Islamic contexts | Different gesture and meaning | |
| latin crossU+271D U+FE0F | A Christian cross for explicitly religious posts | See the cross emoji guide | |
| thumbs upU+1F44D | Simple thanks or agreement | See the thumbs up emoji guide |
Related gestures: π€² on the palms up together guide, β on the raised hand guide, and the whole set on the hand emoji list.
Skin tones and everyday use
Folded hands supports all five skin-tone modifiers, and each card above copies the exact two-code-point sequence. The yellow default is the most common in group and public settings.
- Asking a favour: βcould you send the file when you get a sec πβ
- Thanks: βgot home safe, thank you for the lift πβ
- Hoping: βfingers crossed the weather holds πβ (π€ works too)
- Condolence: βthinking of you πβ, often with π€ or π€
- Religious: prayer requests and blessings, often with βοΈ or π
More meanings and playful uses
Beyond prayer, π is used to express apology, gratitude, humility, and respect. It can be a soft way to say βsorryβ or show regret, often without sounding defensive. It also works as a deep thank-you when a simple βthanksβ feels too small. People use it to show humility when accepting praise or asking for forgiveness, and to convey respect. In religious contexts, it can stand for βthank Godβ or be paired with βamenβ. The gesture resembles the βnamasteβ greeting used in South Asia.
On social media, π is sometimes used playfully for exaggerated pleas β like asking for a favour or reacting to something that feels like a prayer answered. Some people call it the βbegging hands emojiβ when used this way, though the official name remains folded hands.
Common uses of π
On social media, π often appears in memes to exaggerate a plea or a moment of relief, with a tone that can be sincere, ironic, or desperate depending on the caption. In everyday messages, it stands in for a respectful bow or a polite thank you. It can convey a humble request, gratitude after a favour, or a quiet βmuch appreciatedβ. The folded hands gesture also shows humility, so it works after an apology or when asking for a favour. It often reads as a gentle, wordless gesture.
Hands together: the many meanings of π
Beyond prayer, π is often called the hands together emoji. The pressed palms show up whenever someone wants to say thank you, ask for a favour, or send hope.
In India, Nepal and other parts of South Asia, the same hand position is a namaste greeting: a respectful hello and goodbye. The emoji sometimes represents that in messages.
Occasionally, π appears in ironic captions β for example, asking the universe for something small or joking about needing luck. The tone depends on the text around it; on its own, it stays sincere.
Chat examples
Real messages with π, and a reply that fits.
please let the train be on time π
ππ
thank you so much for the help π
of course, any time
interview at 2 π
sending good vibes β¨
Questions people ask
Is π a high five or prayer?
Prayer, thanks or please. The Unicode name is folded hands. The high-five interpretation came from early artwork and is not how the character is defined or usually read.
Is it rude to use the prayer emoji if Iβm not religious?
No. Most uses are secular: please, thank you and hope. Religious readers may take it as sincere prayer, which is rarely a problem.
What is the difference between π and π€²?
π has palms pressed together. π€² has palms open and facing up, used for offering, receiving and, in Islamic contexts, dua.
What does ππ½ mean?
ππ½ is the folded hands emoji with medium skin tone. The meaning is the same as the default yellow π β prayer, thanks, or a request β the skin tone only changes the appearance.
Is there a folded arms emoji?
No, π is the folded hands emoji. People sometimes call it βfolded armsβ by mistake, but folded arms would be a different gesture, like arms crossed. The correct name is folded hands.
Can I use π to say amen?
Yes, in religious contexts people often use π alongside βamenβ to end a prayer or show agreement.
Can I use π to say sorry?
Yes, a π often accompanies an apology, especially when the speaker wants to show sincerity or humility. It works like a bow: βIβm sorry I missed your call πβ. A face emoji like π may add more regret, but π alone is polite.
What about the ππΎ and ππΏ skin tone emojis?
Like all skin tone modifiers, ππΎ and ππΏ show the folded hands with medium-dark and dark skin tones. They carry the same meanings as the default yellow version; the choice is about representation. Copy them from the character details above.
About this guide
Written and maintained by the Emoji Directory editorial team, without ads or sponsorship. Meanings describe how the emoji is commonly used in public posts and messages, not an official definition. Names, code points, versions, keywords and translations come from the Unicode Emoji 18.0 and CLDR data; shortcodes from the gemoji project. Last reviewed . Spotted a mistake or a new usage? Tell us, or read how the directory is made.
