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TheILY is a sign fromAmerican Sign Language which, as a gesture, has moved into the mainstream. Seen primarily in theUnited States and otherAmericanized countries, the sign originated among deaf schoolchildren usingAmerican Sign Language to create a sign from a combination of the signs for the lettersI,L, andY (I LoveYou).[1]
The sign is an informal expression of any of several positive feelings, ranging from general esteem tolove, for the recipient of the sign. A similar-looking but unrelated variation in which the thumb is toward the palm appears inheavy metal music culture as a"horns" hand-sign (though the thumbs extended version is sometimes used) and incollege football as asign of support for various teams including theUniversity of Texas. TheUniversity of Louisiana at Lafayette'sRagin' Cajuns Athletics uses the ILY sign to symbolize the initials of the university (UL).
Deaf Heritage dates the origin of the ILY to 1905.[2] The sign received significant media exposure withRichard Dawson's use of the ILY in his sign off from each episode of theFamily Feud, which he hosted from 1976 to 1985. Presidential candidateJimmy Carter reportedly picked it up from a group of deaf supporters in the Midwest and, in 1977, duringhis Inauguration Day parade, flashed the ILY to a group of deaf people on the sidewalk.
The characterU+1F91F 🤟I LOVE YOU HAND SIGN was added to theUnicode standard in version 11.0, released June 2018.[3][4]
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Appeal to add ILY and other signs to Unicode,YouTube video |
This followed a campaign to have several common signs added to theUnicode Character Set.[5]
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Popular 80s professional wrestlerJimmy Snuka would frequently flash the ILY sign with both hands during his matches and interviews, including while standing on the top rope before delivering his finishing move "Superfly Splash".
The ILY sign is used by theMarvel Comics superheroSpider-Man to activate his web shooters. AdditionallyDoctor Strange uses it as a means to cast his mystical spells.
Gene Simmons of the rock bandKiss has used the symbol in photoshoots, concerts and public appearances since 1974. He has stated in a television interviews that he was a Marvel comics fan, and was inspired by the Doctor Strange use of the symbol to use it himself in photoshoots. He later (by 1976 or earlier) had black gloves made that lacked index and pinky fingers so that even his raised open hand would emulate the ILY sign.
The ending pose of the popularK-pop song "Boy with Luv" byBTS also incorporates this sign with all the members turning around and raising their right hands in this sign.
Throughout theK-pop song "Fancy", the members of the girl groupTwice do this gesture when dancing.
In the animeLove Live!, Nico Yazawa has a catchphrasenico nico nii, and has her own action with it, which incorporates the symbol.
The ILY sign is also a part of the choreography for the song"CASE 143" byStray Kids (with "143" as a code for "I love you"). It's the title song of their EPMAXIDENT in which they are referencing love as a "maximum accident".
In 2025, Venezuelan footballer Reyes Barrios was arrested by ICE and deported to the SalvadoranTerrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) after DHS declared him to be a member of the gangTren de Aragua. In filings, it came out that this classification was due to him having made the ILY sign in a social media post (which they declare to be a gang sign), as well as having aReal Madrid tattoo.[6]
The dictionary definition ofILY@Side-PalmForward at Wiktionary
Media related toILY sign at Wikimedia Commons