What Does A Filled In Teardrop Tattoo Mean?
Rapper Lil Wayne with teardrop tattoos below his eyes The teardrop tattoo or tear tattoo is a symbolic tattoo of a tear that is placed underneath the eye. The teardrop is one of the most widely recognised prison tattoos [1] and has various meanings. It can signify that the wearer has spent time in prison, [2] [3] or more specifically that the wearer was raped while incarcerated and tattooed by the rapist as a “property” mark and for humiliation, since facial tattoos cannot be concealed.
[4] [5] [6] [7] The tattoo is sometimes worn by the female companions of prisoners in solidarity with their loved ones. [8] Amy Winehouse had a teardrop drawn on her face in eyeliner after her husband Blake entered the Pentonville prison hospital following a suspected drug overdose.
[9] It can acknowledge the loss of a friend or family member: North American rappers The Game and Lil Wayne have teardrop tattoos signifying the death of friends [10] and basketball player Amar’e Stoudemire has had a teardrop tattoo since 2012 honoring his older brother Hazell Jr.
, who died in a car accident. [11] In West Coast gang culture (USA), the tattoo may signify that the wearer has killed someone [12] [13] and in some of those circles, the tattoo’s meaning can change: an empty outline meaning either the wearer attempted murder or that a fellow gang member or friend died and when filled in, the wearer sought revenge.
[14] [15] Sometimes the exact meaning of the tattoo is known only by the wearer: [13] [16] Portuguese footballer Ricardo Quaresma has never explained his teardrop tattoos. [17].
Contents
What does a teardrop tattoo mean?
A teardrop tattoo is a small tattoo in the shape of a teardrop near one or both eyes. It is closely associated with gang and prison culture, where it often indicates one has served time, one has been humiliated, or one has killed.
What does it mean when a teardrop is filled in?
The Prison Life Symbolism – As mentioned earlier, for the last 40 to 50 years, the trend with teardrop tattoos has often been associated with the meanings related to the criminal record, street fights and murders, and the life inside the prison. However, the different rules for the teardrop tattoo apply from prison to prison.
In most cases, getting the teardrop tattoo when being in prison is associated with the struggle, pain, and oftentimes loneliness when it comes to being in prison, the yearning for freedom, family, friends, and loved ones.
What Teardrop Tattoos Mean In Prison…
As mentioned above, violent inmates force their less dominant inmates to get a tattoo of the teardrop and oftentimes do it themselves to instill fear and show dominance. Also, the symbolism of life in prison is determined by the color of a teardrop, whether it’s just outlined or filled in with the solid layer of the link or boasts some other color.
Some teardrops are red, but on most occasions, they are blue or green, so that they are closely resembling the actual tear. Some symbolism proposes that the outlined teardrop symbolizes that the prisoner was charged with attempted murder, for harming someone badly, or nearly executing the murder act.
If the teardrop is filled in, that means that the imprisoned person was charged with a degree of murder and is likely sentenced to life in prison. However, these vary from facility to facility and can be taken with the grain of salt before believed in fully.
Also, whether a person should ink the teardrop tattoo on their left or right part of the place rises a lot of confusion. However, that also depends on which facility the person is at, and whether there are some strict culture and policy between the inmates.
So, the teardrops located on the left side of the eye indicate that the person has conducted a murder of someone. Each teardrop represents one murder, which could make other inmates scared of violent and dominant inmates if they have some of those. However, this rule doesn’t apply everywhere.
- Some people may just have the teardrops on the left side due to sadness, sorrow, or pain related to being in prison;
- On the other hand, inmates with teardrop tattoos on the right side of their eye aren’t necessarily associated with them murdering someone;
In some prisons, inmates get teardrops on the right side of the face to mark remembrance of a friend or a family member that has passed away. Certain gang members also ink a teardrop on the right side of their eye as a sign of honor for another gang member who was murdered or had passed away.
In some gangs it could even hint at revenge for the lost gang member. Then again, that doesn’t always hold, and a person that has the tattoo under their right eye isn’t always associated with missing the deceased one or murdered.
Now that we highlighted the key meaning of the teardrop tattoo, let’s take a look at other symbolism of the tattoos, that may be associated with the prison and criminal life, but isn’t limited to it. Instagram: @charlottebergmantattoo.
What does it mean when you get a tear tattoo?
Teardrop – What does a teardrop tattoo mean? Easily one of the most popular prison tattoos in popular culture, the teardrop tattoo actually has a less innocent meaning behind it. The meaning of teardrop tattoos can vary depending on the geography, but they all have the same premise: it symbolizes murder.
A teardrop tattoo on the face means that the person has committed murder. A teardrop outline represents attempted murder, but it could also mean that the person has a friend who was murdered and that they are now currently seeking vengeance.
A filled in teardrop means a death has been avenged. If someone’s initials have been placed in the tear, it could be the name of that person who died. Other sources also indicate that a tear tattoo could mean remorse; one teardrop under the eye serves as a reminder to the person of a mistake. In some prisons, the meaning of teardrop tattoos differs depending on which side it is on. A teardrop tattoo on the left eye means that the person murdered someone in jail, and a teardrop tattoo on the right eye means the person lost a family or gang member to murder. In recent years, it’s become an extremely popular tattoo for rappers and celebrities in an effort to play up their “gangster” image.
Another, less popular symbolism for this prison tattoo is solidarity or support. An example could be the late Amy Winehouse’s ink, which the singer got soon after her husband Blake Fielder-Civil was sent to jail for perverting the course of justice.
The most recognizable name being Lil’ Wayne. Why does the rapper have four teardrop tattoos? The tatts reportedly symbolize the four loved ones he’s lost. Tear tattoos aren’t just done under the eyes. You can also find them on fingers. What is the meaning of a teardrop tattoo on a finger? It could mean dealing with a personal struggle.
Can you get a teardrop tattoo when you are in prison?
The Prison Life Symbolism – As mentioned earlier, for the last 40 to 50 years, the trend with teardrop tattoos has often been associated with the meanings related to the criminal record, street fights and murders, and the life inside the prison. However, the different rules for the teardrop tattoo apply from prison to prison.
In most cases, getting the teardrop tattoo when being in prison is associated with the struggle, pain, and oftentimes loneliness when it comes to being in prison, the yearning for freedom, family, friends, and loved ones.
As mentioned above, violent inmates force their less dominant inmates to get a tattoo of the teardrop and oftentimes do it themselves to instill fear and show dominance. Also, the symbolism of life in prison is determined by the color of a teardrop, whether it’s just outlined or filled in with the solid layer of the link or boasts some other color.
Some teardrops are red, but on most occasions, they are blue or green, so that they are closely resembling the actual tear. Some symbolism proposes that the outlined teardrop symbolizes that the prisoner was charged with attempted murder, for harming someone badly, or nearly executing the murder act.
If the teardrop is filled in, that means that the imprisoned person was charged with a degree of murder and is likely sentenced to life in prison. However, these vary from facility to facility and can be taken with the grain of salt before believed in fully.
Also, whether a person should ink the teardrop tattoo on their left or right part of the place rises a lot of confusion. However, that also depends on which facility the person is at, and whether there are some strict culture and policy between the inmates.
So, the teardrops located on the left side of the eye indicate that the person has conducted a murder of someone. Each teardrop represents one murder, which could make other inmates scared of violent and dominant inmates if they have some of those. However, this rule doesn’t apply everywhere.
Some people may just have the teardrops on the left side due to sadness, sorrow, or pain related to being in prison. On the other hand, inmates with teardrop tattoos on the right side of their eye aren’t necessarily associated with them murdering someone.
In some prisons, inmates get teardrops on the right side of the face to mark remembrance of a friend or a family member that has passed away. Certain gang members also ink a teardrop on the right side of their eye as a sign of honor for another gang member who was murdered or had passed away.
In some gangs it could even hint at revenge for the lost gang member. Then again, that doesn’t always hold, and a person that has the tattoo under their right eye isn’t always associated with missing the deceased one or murdered.
Now that we highlighted the key meaning of the teardrop tattoo, let’s take a look at other symbolism of the tattoos, that may be associated with the prison and criminal life, but isn’t limited to it. Instagram: @charlottebergmantattoo.
