Photo via languagemonitor.com
Photo via languagemonitor.com

Who knew that a universal symbol could become the top word in the world? The Heart ♥ Emoji takes the honors for 2014.

According to the Global Language Monitor, it’s “the first time an ideograph has captured Word of the Year honors.”

The heart emoji is followed by “hashtag” (No. 3 last year) and one we’re more than familiar with in the legal land of weed: “vape.”

Top names for 2014 included Ebola unseating 2013’s No. 1 Pope Francis to second place. World War One was third.

The top phrase? “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot,” the demonstrator chant in response to Ferguson, Mo.

Does the heart emoji mark a significant shift to the way we communicate, perhaps a system where words and phrases won’t be needed at all? Perhaps we can get some new ones, like “I won’t be in to work today, I’m sick,” and “here’s my cover letter.”

Like what you're reading? Subscribe to GeekWire's free newsletters to catch every headline

Job Listings on GeekWork

Find more jobs on GeekWork. Employers, post a job here.