What do tear drop tattoos represent?

Question

I've heard that teardrop tattoos stand for a lost friend when empty, and that you avenged their death when filled in. But I've also heard that under the right eye they just mean that you killed someone, and under the left you've tried to kill someone. What do they represent exactly?

Answer 1

im a tattoo artist, i have a teardrop under my left eye (filled in) and the symbolic meaning behind that is losing someone close to you, unfilled would mean losing someone close to you in a violent way.. right side means you killed someone (unfilled) and filled means you killed someone in a different way, i.e. manslaughter. atleast thats the meaning ive derived from it all, and in my experience over the years its what ive come to learn are the meanings, ofcourse street meanings and prison meanings can differ entirely, it can also differ between cultures, gangs, etc.

Answer 2

If it's a gang tattoo (which it might not necessarily be in all circumstnaces), it usually means that the wearer has killed someone. EDIT: Haha Jennifer, thats what I thought when I was little. "Man, those guys sure like that 'Crybaby' movie" Haha. EDIT: I looked it up, and other common meanings are: -A family member, friend, or fellow gang member has been killed. -In Australia, it is forcibly marked on convicts who are accused child molesters. This mark is then used as a justification for the beatings and abuse of the wearer. The teardrop in this case, represents the tears that the convict will cry, eternally. -Someone just wants to look tough. Lil Wayne (the rapper) has a teardrop tattoo, but has admitted that he has never actually attempted, or carried out a murder.

Answer 3

Left Eye Tattoo

Answer 4

A guy I know had an unfilled teardrop tattoo under his left eye and he said it was a prison tattoo, and that it gets filled in if you kill someone. I've seen a lot of other people who've spent jail time and have teardrop tattoos, especially under their eyes, so I think that's one of the most popular meanings.

Answer 5

when the tear is empty is just represents they think the tattoo is cool but, when the tear is filled that person has killed before.

Answer 6

They could represent plenty of things, I'm sure. Each person can and will have their own interpretation of them. However, I know them as symbolizing the amount of people one has killed.

Answer 7

It means they're stupid enough to have a tattoo on their face.

Answer 8

Various reasons, I think they could be a lost friend. But some people think it's people raped, killed, shot, violent acts, etc.

Answer 9

Well I think it means you killed some one cuz alotta people get them in prison :'(

Answer 10

when it is filled in it mean you killed a man (usally in jail)

Unfilled means someone close to you died.

Answer 11

bad choices