Have you ever received an emoji in a text message and wondered what it means?
I guess we’ve all been there! That’s why, in today’s blog post, we’ll share all the emojis with meaning, examples, and how best to use them.
We’ll tell you what all the popular emojis mean, and also what some rare emojis mean.
By the time you’re done going through this exhaustive list of emojis and their meanings, you’ll never wonder what any emoji means again 😄
Table of Contents
What are Emojis?
Emojis are small digital images or icons that express emotions, ideas, or objects in electronic communication, such as text messages, emails, and social media posts.
They originated from simple emoticons, which conveyed emotions in text-based communication. Emojis have become essential to online communication, allowing users to add tone and personality to their messages.
Today, emojis are a universal language that transcends linguistic barriers. They help convey emotions and intentions that might be lost in plain text, making digital communication more expressive and engaging. Whether you’re sharing a moment of genuine happiness with a smiley face 😊 or expressing intense sadness with a loudly crying face 😭, emojis add emotional depth to your messages.
The History of Emojis
“Emoji” was derived from two Japanese words, ‘e’ and ‘moji’. ‘E’ is short for image while ‘Moji’ is short for character.
These are used while sending messages to depict human emotions or gestures.
As per numerous sources, there are different stories about the origin of emojis.
The idea of emojis was pioneered in the late 1990s by a Japanese artist Shigetaka Kurita. He encountered problems with a new internet platform while working for a mobile communications company, NTT Docomo. Since there were issues with character limits, Kurita suggested using emoticons or pictorial characters instead of words. Therefore, Shigetaka Kurita & NTT Docomo are generally attributed for inventing emojis.
Another theory is that SoftBank had played a part in creating emojis from the ground up. In 1997, SoftBank came out with a mobile phone model that included 90 characters, as listed by Emojipedia. According to some sources, these 90 characters were out before Docomo published their set of 176 emojis.
While the actual origin of emojis may be disputed, the creation of emojis was indeed a revolution! Emojis have become the language used today in daily communication across the world. People use emojis to express emotions and intentions, often not expressed enough in plain text, making virtual communication more effective.
Looking back at the early days, there has been a massive growth of emojis, with thousands of new pictures added to portray different emotions, things, and ideas.
We’ve categorized all the popular emojis based on their usage. Feel free to bookmark this page and refer back whenever you’re in doubt (or when your crush sends you an obscure emoji and you don’t know what it means!).
WhatsApp Emoji Meanings
Over 3 billion people use WhatsApp to communicate with their friends and families daily, meaning billions of emojis are exchanged daily. Let’s check out some of the meanings of WhatsApp emojis.
Hand emoji meaning
Here’s a table containing some of the most popular WhatsApp hand emojis and their meaning:
| Emoji | Name | Meaning |
| 👍 | Thumbs up | This is a simple, universal symbol for agreement or approval. It is often used to say “great” or “all good.” |
| 👋 | Waving hand | This emoji has several meanings. It could mean a friendly gesture to greet someone or say goodbye and convey excitement when connecting with someone. |
| 👏 | Clapping hands | It represents applause or congratulations. It shows appreciation for someone’s effort or achievement. |
| 🙏 | Folded hands (Prayer hands) | It is commonly used to express gratitude, prayer, or a request. Sometimes, it’s a way of saying “thank you” or conveying hope. |
| 🤝 | Handshake | Signifies agreement or partnership. It is often used to show cooperation or to say a deal has been reached. |
| 👌 | OK hand | This is a symbol of approval or satisfaction. It can mean “perfect” or “all is well.” |
| 🤙 | Call me hand | This emoji mimics the gesture of “call me.” It suggests a phone call or saying, “Let’s talk.” |
| ✌ | Victory hand | The victory hand symbolizes peace, victory, or general positivity. It’s often used to convey “peace” or good vibes. |
| ✋ | Raised hand | It can indicate stopping or asking for attention. You can also use it for high-fives or to volunteer. |
| 👈 👉 | Pointing left/Pointing right | This emoji directs attention to something, like a message or a specific point. |
| 🤟 | I love your hand | This is derived from American Sign Language, which expresses love or affection. |
| 🤲 | Palms up together | It shows asking for something or offering help. It can also represent prayer or giving. |
| 👊 | Fist bump | The fist bump emoji symbolizes strength, support, or camaraderie. It’s often used to show solidarity or encouragement. |
| 🙌 | Raising hands (two hands) | This two-hand emoji represents celebration and positive vibes |
Heart emojis
We all know that the heart emoji is used to say I love you, but most people do not know what the different colors of heart emojis mean. Let’s check out some of the most used heart emojis and what they mean.
| Emoji | Name | Meaning |
| ❤️ | Red heart | The red heart symbolizes love, deep affection, romantic feelings, and a strong emotional bond. |
| 💛 | Yellow heart | This emoji represents friendship, happiness, and positivity. It’s often used to express care in a non-romantic context. |
| 💚 | Green heart | It is typically used to show health, nature, and harmony. It can also symbolize environmental awareness or platonic love. |
| 💙 | Blue Heart | This emoji symbolizes trust, loyalty, and peace. It’s often used in conversations that involve support or deep bonds. |
| 💜 | Purple heart | It represents compassion, care, and luxury. It can also signify creativity or emotional depth. |
| 🖤 | Black heart | The black heart symbolizes sadness, grief, or dark humor. |
| 💔 | Broken heart | The broken heart symbolizes heartache, loss, or sadness. It’s commonly used to express emotional pain or disappointment. |
| 💖 | Sparkling heart | It adds an extra touch of affection, suggesting exciting or unique love. It is often used to show admiration or glowing affection. |
| 💗 | Growing heart | The growing effect emphasizes feelings that are intensifying. |
| 💓 | Beating heart | The beating heart emoji expresses intense emotion or excitement. |
| 💞 | Revolving hearts | This emoji signifies mutual love, connection, or a sense of love in motion. |
| 💕 | Two hearts | The two hearts emoji represents a shared or mutual love. It’s commonly used between people who care deeply for each other. |
| 💘 | Heart with arrow | It symbolizes being struck by love, often in a romantic or flirtatious sense. |
| 💝 | Heart with ribbon | A gift of love or affection. It suggests love that’s wrapped up in care or generosity. |
| 💟 | Heart decoration | It is typically used to express love more decoratively or non-romantically, such as showing fondness or positive emotions. |
| ❣️ | Heart exclamation | This emoji emphasizes feelings of love or passion. It’s often used to highlight excitement or strong affection. |
| 💌 | Love letter | This emoji indicates someone is sending affection or expressing their romantic feelings. |
Romantic and Relationship Emoji Meanings
Chatting with your crush can make you anxious, especially when they send an emoji you aren’t familiar with. The first response would be to search “my crush sent me 😍 What does it mean?” or “romantic emoji meanings from a guy.” However, it isn’t easy to understand what they mean or find all the emojis in one place.
Here’s a list to help you understand more about these romantic emojis and their meanings:
| Emoji | Name | Meaning |
| ❤️ | Red heart | This is the ultimate symbol of love and passion. It represents deep romantic feelings and strong emotional connections. |
| 😍 | Smiling face with heart-eyes | It expresses being in love or admiration. It shows that something or someone has completely captivated your heart. |
| 💋 | Kiss Mark | It’s often used to show romantic desire or send a virtual kiss. |
| 😘 | Face blowing a kiss | This emoji represents sending love, care, or affection. It’s a playful way to express a romantic gesture. |
| 💑 | Couple with heart | It symbolizes the love between two people. |
| 💞 | Revolving hearts | This emoji signifies mutual love or affection. It shows a connection that’s strong and continuously growing. |
| 💖 | Sparkling heart | The sparkling heart emoji shows admiration and excitement about your feelings for someone special. |
| 💘 | Heart with arrow | It represents being struck by love, often indicating infatuation or a new romantic crush. |
| 💓 | Beating heart | Expresses excitement or intense emotions in love. It shows a love that is alive and growing stronger. |
| 🥰 | Smiling face with hearts | Conveys feelings of being smitten or surrounded by love. It shows deep affection and romantic bliss. |
| 💏 | Kiss | Represents a romantic kiss between two people. It’s used to show affection or intimacy in a relationship. |
| 💌 | Love letter | Symbolizes sending or receiving love through messages. It shows romantic communication or expressing heartfelt feelings. |
| 🌹 | Rose | It’s a classic romantic gesture. Traditionally, it symbolizes romance, beauty, and affection. |
| 💐 | Bouquet | Represents giving flowers, often as a romantic gesture. It conveys care, love, or admiration for someone special. |
| 😗 | The kissing face emoji | The kissing face emoji is often used to show affection or gratitude. It differs from the face-blowing-a-kiss emoji, which is more playful and romantic. |
| ❣️ | Heart exclamation mark | This is used to express love more exaggeratedly. It is also used to show excitement or surprise. |
Emoji Meanings by Platform: iPhone, Android, and others
Emojis have slightly different looks across different platforms; for example, if you have both Apple and Android devices, you’ll notice that Apple emojis are generally more sleek than Android devices.
iPhone emoji meanings
The Apple color palette uses softer shades with detailed or enhanced expressions.
For example, the “Smiling Face With Heart-Eyes” emoji on iPhone has a more polished outlook. It has well-defined heart eyes, a smooth gradient effect on the face, and a broader smile, making it more expressive.
Android emoji meanings
The emojis designed for Android give a more playful, bolder, and cartoonish effect.
For example, the same “Smiling Face With Heart-Eyes” emoji on Android has larger hearts, a slimmer smile, and more color gradients, giving it a slightly different look even though they have the same meaning.
Emoji meaning on social media platforms
Emojis can also look different on web apps and desktop devices, making them even more complex.
Web apps like WhatsApp, Slack, Snapchat, and Facebook Messenger use customized emoji sets that differ from those on mobile devices. Sometimes, these platforms also use a combination of custom emojis and platform-native ones, making them even more complex.
Comprehensive Emoji Meaning List
There are over 3,700 emojis, and the Unicode Consortium adds more yearly.
The Unicode Consortium is a not-for-profit organization that standardizes the code for text and emojis used across devices. With so many emojis available, it can be challenging to create a complete list.
However, here are some popular ones you will most likely use daily.
Smileys & people emoji meanings
| Emoji | Name | Meaning |
| 🙂 | Slightly smiling face | A gentle smile is used to express politeness or friendliness in a non-overbearing way. |
| 🫣 | Face with peeking eyes | It represents trying to look away from something because it’s frightening or embarrassing but not being able to |
| 😁 | Beaming face with smiling eyes | This emoji conveys pure joy and often shows extreme happiness or excitement. |
| 😅 | Grinning face with sweat | A smile, paired with a drop of sweat, typically signals nervousness or relief after a stressful situation. |
| 🤔 | Thinking face | This emoji is commonly used when pondering a question, mulling over an idea, or expressing curiosity. |
| 😳 | Flushed face | Whether from slight embarrassment or surprise, this emoji captures that feeling of being caught off guard. |
| 🥲 | Smiling face with a tear | It conveys mixed emotions, where a smile reflects contentment, but the tear shows underlying sadness. |
| 😊 | Smiling face with blush | A soft, warm smile, this emoji is often used to express feelings of happiness or shy gratitude. |
| 😎 | Smiling face with sunglasses | The classic “cool” emoji is typically used to show confidence or a laid-back attitude. |
| 🤩 | Star-struck | This emoji radiates amazement or admiration and often expresses awe or awe. |
| 😢 | Crying face | A single tear rolling down the cheek represents mild sadness or disappointment. |
| 😭 | Loudly crying face | This emoji shows deep sorrow or heartache through heavy tears when words aren’t enough. |
| 😡 | Angry face | This emoji clearly shows when things have gone wrong, whether in frustration or outright anger. |
| 🤨 | Face with a raised eyebrow | A look of doubt or skepticism is often used when something doesn’t add up. |
| 🤯 | Exploding head | They are used to show extreme shock or when something mind-blowing happens. |
| 😴 | Sleeping face | It symbolizes exhaustion, or sometimes boredom, in response to a situation. |
| 😞 | Disappointed face | This emoji is generally used to express disappointment. |
| 😟 | Worried face | Use this emoji to express worry. |
| 😒 | Unamused face | This emoji expresses dissatisfaction, irritability, and generally being unimpressed. |
| 😱 | Screaming emoji | This emoji is often used to express disbelief, shock, or fear. |
| 🤢 | Nauseated face | This emoji conveys several emotions, including extreme disgust, sickness, or nausea. |
| 🥵 | Hot face | This emoji has several meanings. It could be used to flirt, show attraction to someone, or show that you are extremely hot. |
| 🥶 | Cold face | Like a Hot face, it could depict extreme cold or emotional distance. |
| 😤 | Face with steam | The face with steam from the nose emoji expresses anger, annoyance, or frustration. |
| 🙃 | Upside down smiley face | It conveys reactions like confusion, silliness, sarcasm, or even frustrated resignation. |
| 🤣 | Rolling on the floor, laughing | This expresses hysterical laughter. |
| 🙄 | Rolling eyes | This is used to express sarcasm, disdain, or boredom. |
| 😶 | Face without mouth | It expresses speechlessness. |
| 😵 | Face with crossed-out eyes | This is used to express dizziness, surprise, or amazement. |
| 🤑 | Money mouth face | It expresses money or ‘the good life.’ |
| 🤐 | Zipper mouth face | This represents lips sealed. |
| 👽 | Alien | It is used to represent anything strange or unusual. |
| 😵💫 | Face with spiral eyes | This emoji represents confusion, intoxication, or any form of disorientation. |
| 😇 | Angel face with a halo | It is often used to represent innocence, good feeling, and angelic. |
| 🤒 | Face with thermometer | This emoji is typically used to convey illness, flu, or fever. |
| 🤡 | Clown face | It represents silliness or goofy feelings. |
| 😶🌫️ | Face in clouds | Represents confusion or foggy state of mind |
| 🫠 | Melting face | This is used to represent awkwardness or slight embarrassment. |
| 😏 | Smirking face | It conveys several feelings, including smugness, flirtation, mischief, or sarcasm. |
| 🫤 | Diagonal mouth face | This is usually used to represent skepticism. |
| 🤓 | Nerd emoji | The nerd emoji is typically used to represent overly seriousness or nerdiness. |
Hand gestures emoji meanings
| Emoji | Name | Meaning |
| 👌 | Ok hand | A universal gesture is signaling approval or that everything is just fine. |
| ✌️ | Victory hand | Commonly associated with peace, this gesture also represents triumph or positive energy. |
| 👋 | Waving hand | Whether saying hello or goodbye, this gesture represents a friendly greeting or parting. |
| 👍 | Thumbs up | It is a simple yet effective way to show approval, agreement, or something excellent. |
| 👎 | Thumbs down | The opposite of thumbs up. This signifies disapproval, rejection, or dissatisfaction. |
| 🙏 | Folded hands | Used either for prayer or as a gesture of gratitude and respect, it often conveys humility. |
| 👏 | Clapping hands | A symbol of applause and praise, it shows recognition or appreciation for something well done. |
| 🙌 | Raising hands | An expression of celebration or joy, often used to mark success or exciting moments. |
| 🤲 | Palms up together | A symbol of giving or asking, this emoji suggests offering something or seeking help. |
| 🤝 | Handshake | It represents mutual agreement or partnership and is often used in the context of collaboration or deals. |
| 👊 | Fist bump | A casual way of greeting someone or showing camaraderie and solidarity. |
| 🤘 | Sign of the horns | Prevalent in rock culture, it expresses excitement or high energy. |
| 🤟 | Rock on hand | This is often used to represent excitement or enthusiasm |
| 🤞 | Crossed fingers | Wishing for good luck, this gesture conveys hope or anticipation for a positive outcome. |
| 🤟 | Love-you gesture | A gesture of affection is often used to show love or deep care for someone. |
| ✋ | Raised hand | A sign to stop, take notice, or indicate that you have something to say or contribute. |
| 🤙 | Call me hand | The call me hand emoji is used to signal someone to contact you. |
| 🤦♂️ | Facepalm | This emoji typically represents frustration or exasperation. |
| 🤷♂️ | Shrugging shoulders | Express indifference using this emoji |
| 🖖 | Vulcan salute | It is used to indicate something logical. |
| 🤏 | Pinching fingers | This emoji is used to indicate something small or insignificant. |
| 🤌 | Pinched fingers | The pinched finger emoji is used to express approval or appreciation. |
| 🤙 | Shusing hand | This is used to tell someone to be quiet or silent. |
| 🫰 | Crossed fingers | It symbolizes anticipation, hope, good luck, or to make a wish |
Animals & nature emoji meanings
| Emoji | Name | Meaning |
| 🐶 | Dogface | The symbol of loyalty and friendship is often used when talking about pets or a loving companion. |
| 🐱 | Cat face | Representing independence and curiosity, this emoji captures the playful or mysterious nature of cats. |
| 🐭 | Mouse face | Signifying innocence and cuteness, this emoji is often associated with smallness or timidity. |
| 🐰 | Rabbit face | Quick and playful, this emoji is commonly used to show energy or speed. |
| 🦊 | Fox’s face | Symbolizing cunning and cleverness, it’s often used when referring to someone sly or sharp. |
| 🐻 | Bear face | Known for its strength and warmth, the bear represents protection and comfort. |
| 🐼 | Panda face | Often used to symbolize peace, calm, or cuteness, especially in nature-loving conversations |
| 🐨 | Koala | Relaxed and gentle, the koala symbolizes calmness or a love for nature. |
| 🦁 | Lion Face | A potent symbol of courage and leadership often used to express pride or bravery. |
| 🐸 | Frog face | This emoji is often associated with nature and transformation, showing a calm, zen-like state. |
| 🐥 | Baby Chick | It signifies new beginnings, innocence, or something fresh and pure. |
| 🐢 | Turtle | It symbolizes patience and perseverance, often representing slow but steady progress. |
| 🦄 | Unicorn | It symbolizes fantasy, magic, and uniqueness, often used when something feels extraordinary. |
| 🌻 | Sunflower | Representing positivity and warmth, this flower emoji often conveys happiness or growth. |
| 🌞 | Sun with face | A cheerful symbol that represents warmth, optimism, or a bright day. |
Objects emoji meanings
| Emoji | Name | Meaning |
| 📱 | Mobile phone | It represents texting, calling, or general technology use, often shorthand for communication. |
| 💻 | Laptop | This emoji is associated with work, productivity, or online activities, often signaling a focus on tech. |
| 🖥️ | Desktop computer | They usually indicate office work or browsing, especially in tech or business settings. |
| 📷 | Camera | The go-to emoji for capturing moments, photography, or anything related to creativity. |
| 🎥 | Movie camera | It represents filmmaking or recording and is commonly used when discussing movies or media production. |
| 🎧 | Headphones | Whether listening to music or concentrating, this emoji symbolizes focus and relaxation. |
| 📦 | Package | Used for deliveries or receiving shipments, this emoji represents something coming in or going out. |
| 📝 | Memo | A symbol of tasks or reminders, it suggests writing down notes or planning something. |
| 🔑 | Key | Often symbolizing access or solutions, this emoji can represent finding answers or unlocking potential. |
| 🚪 | Door | A symbol for opportunities or exits, it can suggest new beginnings or the end of something. |
| 🛏️ | Bed | This emoji represents rest, sleep, or relaxation and is often used when discussing the need for a break. |
| 🕶️ | Sunglasses | Signifying coolness or confidence, this emoji is commonly used when talking about style or relaxation. |
| ⌚ | Watch | A symbol of time, punctuality, or keeping track of something, often used with deadlines or schedules. |
| 🎁 | Wrapped gift | They are typically used to represent celebrations, birthdays, or giving surprises. |
| 🔋 | Battery | An icon representing energy or power it’s often used when talking about devices running low or recharging. |
Symbols emoji meanings
| Emoji | Name | Meaning |
| ⚠️ | Warning | They convey caution or attention to something potentially dangerous or essential. |
| ⛔ | No entry | Represents a restriction or prohibition, often used when something is not allowed. |
| ♻️ | Recycling Symbol | A sign of eco-friendliness, sustainability, or being mindful of the environment. |
| ✅ | Check mark | This icon shows that something has been confirmed, completed, or approved. |
| ❌ | Cross mark | A signal of something incorrect, rejected or denied. |
| ℹ️ | Information | Used when giving helpful advice, guidance, or pointing someone to useful information. |
| ✔️ | Heavy check mark | A more decisive confirmation than the standard check is often used for emphasis. |
| ❓ | Question mark | Signals doubt, confusion, or a request for clarification. |
| ❗ | Exclamation Mark | Adds emphasis, urgency, or excitement to a statement or situation. |
| 💯 | Hundred points | A symbol of perfection or achievement, often used when something is spot on. |
| 🔴 | Red circle | Draws attention, often used to signify something essential or recording. |
| 🟢 | Green Circle | A symbol of success or approval is commonly used to indicate that something is good to go. |
| 🔵 | Blue Circle | Represents calm, trust, or neutrality, often used in a more passive or neutral context. |
| 💠 | Diamond with a dot | A decorative symbol that represents something special, unique, or of high quality. |
| 🔺 | Red triangle | They are often used as a warning sign, indicating something critical or requiring attention. |
| 🖖 | Vulcan salute | Sending good wishes like “live long and prosper |
| ⭕ | Hollow red circle | Correct/right (Japanese-style) |
| 💯 | 100 emoji | Represents total agreement |
| 💓 | Beating/vibrating heart | Beating heart |
| 💫 | Comet star | Represents starstruck |
| ❤️🩹 | Mending heart | It is used to convey healing or empathy. |
| 💥 | Explosion | Used to represent something explosive or surprising |
Obscure Emojis and Their Meanings (+How to Use Them Correctly)
Emojis are globally used to communicate emotions through text messages. However, some emojis can be confusing to use. Here’s a list of a few obscure emojis, what they mean, and how you can use them:
Anger 💢
- Emoji Name: Anger
- Emoji meaning: Used as a symbol to depict that someone is extremely angry. It comes from popular manga books in Japan, where artists use this symbol to depict anger. Why? These red lines are supposed to represent veins popping due to anger!
- How to use: “Someone broke my mom’s vase! 💢”
Fleur-de-lis ⚜️
- Emoji Name: Fleur-de-lis
- Meaning: A French symbol that means “flower of the lily”. The legend goes that her tears bloomed into lilies when Eve was cast out. It’s also a symbolic representation of taking pride in French heritage, especially on Mardi Gras.
Diamond with a dot 💠
- Emoji Name: Diamond with a dot
- Meaning: Japanese symbol that denotes something very cute, or kawaii.
- How to use: “Pastel shades will add a nice transition in this painting 💠”
Name badge 📛
- Emoji Name: Name badge
- Meaning: Used as an identification tag or an alert badge.
- How to use: “Hey, here’s my new office badge 📛”
Japanese “discount” button 🈹
- Emoji Name: Japanese “discount” button
- Meaning: The Japanese symbol for discount, price cut, gain, or advantage. Also used to depict the term “a good bargain” or “a good deal”.
- How to use: “I found crochet flowers at a great 🈹!”
Moai emoji🗿
- Emoji name: Moai Emoji
- Meaning: It stands for the famous statues of Easter Island. In pop culture, it represents stoic, deadpan, or sarcastic expressions. Also, used universally by K-pop fans to post about their favorite artists.
- How to use: “You did a great job at ruining the pancakes 🗿”
Flower playing cards 🎴
- Emoji name: Flower Playing Cards
- Meaning: This emoji is used as a stand-in for card games. It is also used to represent the popular anime called Demon Slayer.
- How to use: “Are you guys up for a game night? 🎴🎴”
Non-potable water 🚱
- Emoji name: Non-potable water
- Meaning: It stands for non-potable water in campsites to warn people about unsafe drinking water. In today’s pop-culture slang, it is used when someone wants to avoid a particular drink (usually alcohol).
- How to use: “I have work tomorrow, so count me out of 🚱 plans!”
Sparkles ✨
- Emoji name: Sparkles
- Meaning: An emoji representing beauty, excitement, magic, miracle, and joy. Also used by GenZ to add emphasis on a situation or show a sarcastic tone.
- How to use: “What a beautiful wedding gown! ✨✨”
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How to Use Emojis With Slang Meanings
Now, let’s look at emojis with different uses based on informal slang and pop culture.
Hot face 🥵
The hot face emoji face refers to warm temperatures during the summer. But it’s also used to indicate that we find someone attractive.
This is because of the double meaning of the term “hot” in the English language.
Ghost 👻
This isn’t your average Casper: The Friendly Ghost emoji. In modern dating parlance, the word “ghost” means that someone isn’t responding to your messages or ignoring you.
It’s also used if someone stands you up on a date. We often use this word in platonic contexts as well.
Snake 🐍
The snake emoji also has a few interpretations. It’s used to refer to someone who sneaks around or stabs you in the back when you least expect it.
It can also be a symbol of meanness or lack of empathy about a situation.
Hot pepper 🌶️
The hot pepper emoji can represent spicy food. You’ve probably seen this symbol on restaurant menus to indicate spice levels on certain dishes.
But, it also has a double meaning. You can use this emoji to give people a heads-up about upcoming spicy content that’s not suited to everyone’s ears.
GOAT 🐐
The goat emoji’s meaning has evolved over time. It stands for the acronym GOAT, short for Greatest of All Time. For instance, Tom Brady was celebrated as the GOAT during his retirement from the NFL in 2022.
Use this emoji whenever you appreciate someone for being at the top of their field. Of course, you can also use it to refer to farm animals too.
Teacup 🍵
The teacup emoji rose to popularity in 2018, with Japanese matcha and green tea becoming a drink of choice worldwide. But, this emoji is used a little differently.
The teacup emoji can also say “spill the tea.” Here, tea means the latest gossip or interesting information.
Fishing pole 🎣
This emoji isn’t just for fishing aficionados. In the context of dating, this emoji can say that you’ve been fishing for attention or that you reeled someone in.
Many people use this emoji in platonic contexts to indicate they’re vying for someone’s affection.
Clapping hands 👏
This hand-clap emoji looks like someone giving a round of applause to show their encouragement. That’s one use of it. It’s also used in a sarcastic way to criticize people.
But, did you know that this emoji can help you drive your point home while sharing your opinions? The hand-clap emoji emphasizes your point when it’s put between every word.
How to Use Emojis in Your Marketing
Phew, that sure is a long list of popular emojis and smileys, but those are the ones people have at the top of their frequently used emojis list.
Can you incorporate all these emojis into your marketing campaigns? Indeed, you can! Whether you’re trying to convey excitement, express urgency, or even throw in a double-meaning emoji, keep reading for suggestions on implementing the emojis from the table above.
1. Kissing face with heart 😘
Show some love to your audience with this kiss emoji. You can use it cheekily in an email subject line when offering an irresistible deal. This emoji is also handy for marketers to pull out around Valentine’s Day.
2. Laughing crying emoji 😂
Post this laugh-cry emoji when something is so amusing you laugh and cry simultaneously.
3. Blushing smiley with hearts 🥰
This loved-up emoji can be used to express your gratitude and appreciation toward your audience. It’s another emoji to consider for Valentine’s season when you feel like the rose or red heart emojis are played out.
4. Blushing face with smiling eyes 😊
A standard, happy emoji, this one fits into any marketing message where you want to spread a little joy.
5. Heart-shaped eyes face 😍
Make ‘em fall in love with your latest deal! You can also use the classic heart-eye emoji to underscore a point.
6. Blushing smiley☺️
You can use the blush emoji interchangeably with the smiling emoji. They mean the same thing, so it’s just a stylistic choice.
7. Pleading face 🥺
Have your users not opened their emails from you in a while? Pull out this sad-looking emoji and add it to your next subject line with a FOMO-inducing email body, and your open rates might go up.
8. Rolling eyes face 🙄
This classic emoji is the perfect way to express your annoyance at a situation.
9. Slightly happy face 🙂
Context matters with this emoji. Its usage is sometimes taken at face value to express happiness, while others use it sarcastically. After all, there are enough genuinely happy emojis out there!
10. XD face 😆
This smug emoji adds some nuance to one’s smiley catalog besides the standard library of happy faces.
11. Party hat smiley 🥳
Woohoo! It’s party time. Let everyone know that they should let loose and have fun with this emoji.
12. Sunglasses emoji 😎
You’ll be as cool as a cucumber by posting this emoji. It also comes in handy for summertime promotions.
13. Expressionless face 😑
Despite this emoji’s name, it’s not devoid of emotion. It conveys annoyance or exasperation.
14. Frowning face ☹️
There’s this emoji for instances when words won’t do. Its deep frown conveys deep sorrow or disappointment with a situation.
15. Kissing with eyes closed face 😚
Some people think this emoji is less romantic than the kiss emoji from the top of this list because it doesn’t have a heart. Others think it’s more romantic because it’s just a pouting face puckering up for a smooch.
You can use it the same way as any kissing emoji, although this one doesn’t come up as much as the first one we looked at.
16. Angelic face with halo 😇
When your team devises a discount that’s so good and heavenly, let your followers know by using this emoji. It can also represent sweetness and purity.
17. Side-eye emoji or unamused face emoji 😒
Ah, one little emoji can say so much! That side-eyed look and deep expression of unhappiness will perfectly convey how you’re feeling.
18. Sun emoji with face 🌞
Not everyone reaches for this emoji, which has such a large collection of smileys to choose from. It’s understated and undeniably summery. It looks great when combined with the sunglasses smiley in a marketing campaign.
19. Neutral face 😐
Once again, don’t let the name fool you! This so-called neutral face expresses exasperation, so it’s not an emoji to use when you feel indifferent.
20. Person raising their hand 🙋
This emoji conjures up images of getting the teacher’s attention in the classroom. You can use it in your group chat the next time you have an answer to your friend’s burning question.
21. Smiling face with hand covering mouth 🤭
This newer emoji is quite the sly inclusion. It’s positively gossipy, and it doesn’t look the least bit ashamed about it. Use it when feeling catty.
22. Sleepy face 😴
Marketers that sell sleep products like masks or mattresses will get plenty of use out of this emoji fashioning the sleepy, tired face.
23. Fearful screaming face 😱
This emoji expresses a lot of things, from shock and surprise to fear. Throw this emoji in your email subject line or social media post when you offer a shockingly low deal, like 50 percent off. It drives the point home well!
24. Upside down smiling face 🙃
This is another emoji where all is not what it seems, but it’s a little more obvious this one isn’t intended to be glad. Instead, it expresses a rueful, sarcastic kind of happiness.
25. Starry-eyed smiley face 🤩
Do you worry that sending hearty eyes can be perceived as unprofessional? The star-eyed emoji is like the SFW version. It expresses the same kind of positive astonishment but less romantically.
26. Relieved face 😌
It’s nice to chill, wouldn’t you agree? This emoji conveys calmness. Spa businesses should use this a lot to promote their services with emoji marketing.
27. Smiling face 😀
You can’t go wrong using this smile emoji! It’s your standard happy smiley out there living its best life.
28. Smiling face with happy eyes 😄
Here’s another variation on the smiley above, albeit one that looks happier because its eyes are smiling as well as its mouth. It’s a great emoji for expressing happiness, if not a bit expected.
29. See no evil monkey 🙈
The see-no-evil monkey is part of a trio but has been commandeered independently. You know what emoji to send when someone makes a bad decision, and you don’t want to see the outcome.
30. Red angry face 😡
Perhaps no angry emoji better expresses what pure rage feels like than this one. It’s not the angry emoji to pull out when frustrated, but when you’re so angry, you’re seeing red.
31. Smiling face with a big grin 😃
This emoji is probably the happiest of the bunch, as it has large eyes, a grinning face, and a smile that’s almost as big to match. It’s a clear way to express gladness.
32. Weary face 😩
The weary or agonized face shows the lowest of lows, and looks deeply wounded and tortured. You could also use this emoji when exhausted.
33. Tearful face 😢
The tearful face is less serious than some of the sad emojis you can select from but still emotionally provoking. Marketers can use it as part of a retargeting campaign to lure a customer back to the site.
34. Smirking face 😏
This smirk emoji knows something that you don’t. Use this emoji when feeling playfully secretive, as it’s ideal for that mood.
35. Grin with tongue out face 😋
Does your company work in the culinary sphere? The grinning face emoji with its tongue out looks like it just tasted yummy. You might use it with a coupon to incentivize your customer to return to the joint and try a bite.
36. Eyes emoji looking left 👀
This emoji can look a bit shifty depending on your use, but it can also direct attention toward something.
37. Flexing arm 💪
The flexing arm emoji is very straightforward. It represents strength and power. Fitness and nutrition companies will find plenty of excuses to use this emoji in their marketing materials.
38. Shrugging person 🤷
Do you ever just feel meh? Don’t we all! The shrugging emoji, which comes in men’s and women’s versions, is a handy emoji for those blah kind of days.
39. Face palm 🤦
The ‘facepalm’ has made its way into popular vernacular, so it was only a matter of time before it became an emoji. The meaning of this one is clear, and it isn’t good!
40. Pensive face 😔
The pensive face looks rather dejected. It comes in handy for expressing sorrow and remorse.
41. Wrapped present 🎁
Moving away from smileys, next is the wrapped present emoji. The colorful gift wrap makes this appropriate for someone’s birthday or the holiday season. Use this emoji in your marketing when your audience has earned a free gift!
42. Gold crown 👑
The gold crown emoji is emblematic of royalty. Let your VIPs know what you think of them when you use this emoji in your email marketing.
43. Poop emoji 💩
The poop emoji is rather divisive. It also has several meanings, which can make using it difficult. Some people think it’s funny and cheeky, others use it playfully, and others still choose this emoji to say something sucks.
44. Money bag💰
The money bag emoji is indicative of wealth. You can attach it to a new product or service to associate value with your debut. It’s also a handy emoji to use for Tax Day marketing when you try to get your audience to spend their refund.
45. Sun emoji ☀️
This sun emoji has no smiling face. Its application is more for weather, but you can use it to announce a spring or summer sale no matter what your industry.
46. Open confetti ball 🎊
New Year’s Eve is one of the most popular occasions for the open confetti ball emoji to come out. It’s so celebratory and shiny that it seems tailored to this time of year. You can also use it when celebrating a major business occasion like a successful product launch or anniversary.
47. Cherry blossom 🌸
The sakura or cherry blossom is a sign of spring’s arrival. It’s also a beautiful, colorful flower emoji with a soft aesthetic. You can use it to signal the cherry blossoms are in bloom, to announce a spring sale, or to showcase a pretty pink product.
48. Bouquet 💐
The bouquet has an array of lovely blooms. This flower emoji has some romantic connotations depending on how you use it, such as with heart emojis for Valentine’s Day. Floral shops should have this emoji on standby, as they’ll get a lot of use out of it.
49. Balloon 🎈
The balloon emoji is bright, shiny, and red. It’s celebratory and goes well with the birthday cake and gift emojis, but you can use it on its own. For example, this emoji would come in handy for children’s brands in a text or email marketing campaign.
50. Red rose 🌹
Roses are utterly romantic, so this emoji has that side of it. Like the bouquet emoji, you can also appreciate the red rose for its beauty, slotting it into a floral shop marketing strategy.
51. Birthday cake 🎂
This emoji really only has one use – to celebrate birthdays. Adding it to the personalized subject line of a customer on their special day will surely make your brand more memorable and increase their loyalty.
52. Party popper 🎉
You can’t have a party without poppers! This party emoji explodes jovially and sets a festive mood. You can use it with the birthday cake and gift emojis to celebrate a birthday, or anytime you feel congratulatory.
53. Red heart ♥️
The heart emojis come in every color under the rainbow, so it’s no surprise the red heart is the most popular. This love emoji is simple but romantic in this hue.
54. Green checkmark emoji ✅
The green checkmark emoji is one of the more professional emojis with meaning on the list. You can use it to indicate project completion and/or correctness. It would look great in an opt-in form with an enticing lead magnet.
55. Thumbs up 👍
The classic thumbs-up emoji means that everything is okay. This emoji is positive reinforcement at its finest. It’s laid back and doesn’t try too hard, so use it when you want to convey those vibes.
56. Black heart 🖤
The black heart is sexy and mysterious. It can have a romantic element, or it can carry a side of heartbreak with it. Which will it be? That depends on how you use it.
57. Index finger pointing left 👈
Here’s another emoji with an exceedingly clear meaning. It’s a finger that’s pointing left, such as when you want to indicate something worth seeing to the left.
58. Explosion 💥
The explosion emoji leaves room for interpretation. It’s sometimes used for surprise, but it’s also the go-to when you want to convey that something has an explosive effect (although hopefully not literally). The bright colors make it a good emoji for marketers.
59. Green heart 💚
Change up the pace with the green heart instead. It doesn’t have a different meaning than the red or black hearts, per se, although it’s earthier and more centered. You can even combine all the heart colors into a fun rainbow.
60. Peace hand ✌️
The positive vibes of the peace hand are great whether you favor the V for victory usage of this emoji or you prefer a more tranquil message. It’s an unassuming emoji you can slot into email subject lines.
61. Music notes 🎶
The three floating music notes can make your marketing messages sing, quite literally. Instrument retailers, choir services, and any music brand should use this emoji, although not to excess.
62. Broken heart 💔
The broken heart emoji conjures sadness. It’s as tough looking at this emoji as it is suffering from a broken heart.
63. Index finger pointing down👇
What’s that going on down there? This emoji will tell you!
64. Lipstick mark 💋
Say it with a kiss. That’s what this emoji is all about. It’s seductive, romantic, and perhaps a bit cheeky if done correctly. Lingerie and makeup brands could use this emoji long after February 14th.
65. Red heart exclamation❣️
The red heart exclamation is a unique love emoji for sure. It’s like the basic red heart but with a bit of a facelift. Its shape makes it more exclamatory, so use it when you want to put an emphasis on something.
66. Two hands raised high 🙌
To the roof! These hands are as triumphant as can be. They’re here to celebrate successes, big or small, and have positive vibes all around.
67. Fingers crossed emoji 🤞
A little bit of luck can go a long way. The fingers crossed emoji would work well when announcing a raffle, contest, or giveaway and could just encourage more people to participate.
68. Blue heart 💙
The blue heart is yet another standard heart color that’s cooler and calmer. You can use it instead of the other colors or in combination with them.
69. Revolving hearts 💞
The revolving hearts emoji showcases two hearts intertwined. This emoji tells one emotional story without any words. It has much stronger romantic connotations than the other heart emojis we’ve looked at.
70. Pink growing hearts 💗
At first glance, you could mistake this for the pink heart emoji. However, it’s more nuanced than that, featuring a series of hearts growing in size. Use it to represent a love that keeps getting bigger with time.
71. Index finger pointing right 👉
The last of the pointing finger emojis is one facing to the right. Grab a customer’s attention by inserting this emoji into a blog post or SMS message.
72. Sparkling pink heart emoji 💖
The sparkling pink heart has a bit of extra shine. It’s more of a special occasions emoji that keeps messaging fresh.
73. Twinkles or sparkles ✨
Are you wracking your brain, wondering which emoji to insert into your latest marketing message? The sparkle emoji is a good option. It’s mostly used for decoration, although it could also come in handy for emphasis.
75. Purple heart 💜
The purple heart is a good complement to the blue heart. It’s darker and maybe a touch more mysterious, but otherwise, it functions the same way as any heart emoji.
75. OK gesture 👌
This hand gesture means OK, which is a stand-in for lack of any emoji that says the same. Use it when you want to tell someone about a job well done.
76. Winking face 😉
Let’s get into some emojis with double meaning. The winking factor of the wink emoji is straightforward, but it can also add to innuendos. It’s sort of like saying “if you know what I mean,” while you dramatically wink and nudge someone.
77. Hot face 🥵
The burning red skin and stuck-out tongue of this emoji suggest that sweltering weather is on the horizon, but it’s also been commandeered for attractive people.
78. 100 emoji with red underline 💯
The original use of this emoji suggests it might represent a perfect score such as on a test at school. However, with slang such as keeping it 100 (which means keeping it real), it’s taken on a different meaning.
79. Fire emoji🔥
The fire emoji operates the same as the burning hot face. You can use it to denote sweltering heat or a literal fire (although hopefully not!) or someone attractive.
80. Smiling purple devil 😈
The complement to the evil-looking purple devil is this smiling emoji. It looks downright naughty, and it’s often used for those kinds of texting purposes.
81. Angry devil emoji 👿
This evil-looking devil emoji means up to good for nothing. It shows mischief born out of anger as a reaction to upsetting events, news, or maybe irritation towards someone.
82. Drooling face 🤤
The last emoji we’ll look at is this one openly drooling. Whatever it’s looking at sure is yummy!
83. Flushed face 😳
Made a mistake? Did something embarrassing? The 😳 Flushed Face emoji appears to convey a thousand emotions.
84. Scared emoji 😨
This emoji shows a mix of fear and surprise. So, if you’re promoting a sale, you can use the emoji to create some intrigue. Use this scared emoji to show how down your prices have dipped and how much time they have to take advantage of it.
85. Cat face 🐱
What something different than your traditional smileys? Cat emojis offer a range of emotions that smiley faces offer, but they’re just more cute and silly!
86. Latin cross emoji ✝️
One of the most ubiquitous symbols of Christianity is the Latin cross, which is also represented as the Christian cross emoji. It is used to create a religious allusion that is exclusive to Christianity.
87. Gun emoji 🔫
The 🔫 emoji goes by many names, including gun, squirt gun emoji, or water pistol. You may use it for everything from water guns to actual ones—but often, its connotation is lighthearted and amusing between friends to tease one another.
88. Yellow heart 💛
Like any other heart emoji, the yellow heart emoji (💛) may express love. However, its yellow color is more often used to indicate friendship and liking rather than passionate love. You can also use an orange heart emoji (🧡) to express the same.
89. Brown heart 🤎
The emoji is often used to convey sentiments of love, tenderness, and close relationships. It is also used to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement in pursuing racial justice and equality for people of color.
90. White heart 🤍
Just like the other hearts in the emoji collection, the white heart emoji is often used to express love. However, the white color represents support and positivity for strong relationships. Some also use white hearts to show love and admiration for everything related to white, such white animals or apparel.
91. Chef’s kiss emoji 👩🍳
This emoji symbol often means you’re satisfied with something, whether food or not. Marketers can use this to promote their products- delicious food or a perfectly crafted dress!
Contextual Use of Emojis in Texting and Social Media
Emojis can have different meanings across various platforms and contexts.
So, knowing the contextual meanings for effective social media emoji marketing is important. For example, the medical mask emoji 😷 might represent illness in one context, while it could signify protection or safety measures in another.
The hand emoji 👋 can also mean “hello” in some cultures but “goodbye” in others. Therefore, it’s best to apply context when determining the meaning of any emoji.
Using emojis in professional settings
Emojis should be used sparingly and appropriately in business or work-related conversations to maintain professionalism. Here are some general guidelines:
- Use emojis to lighten the tone: Emojis like 👍 (thumbs up), 😊 (smiling face), or 👏 (clapping hands) can soften messages without losing professionalism. For example, “Great job on the presentation! 👏”
- Avoid overusing emojis: Using too many in formal conversations may seem unprofessional. Stick to one or two when needed.
- Stick to neutral emojis: For ideas and progress, stick to emojis that convey clear and positive meaning, like ✅ (checkmark), 🚀 (rocket), or 💡 (lightbulb).
- Be mindful of audience and culture: Some emojis may have different meanings in various regions or contexts. Awareness of these cultural nuances can help avoid misunderstandings and ensure your messages are interpreted correctly.
Using emojis in casual communication
In social media, texting, or more casual communication, emojis are much more flexible and can enhance the emotional tone of the conversation. Popular choices include to:
- Express emotions: Emojis like 😂 (face with tears of joy), ❤️ (heart), or 😍 (heart eyes) are commonly used to express happiness, love, or excitement. For example, “I can’t believe we’re attending that concert! 😍”
- React to moments: Emojis such as 😜 (winking face with tongue) or 🤣 (rolling on the floor laughing) are ideal for responding to funny moments or light-hearted interactions. To express surprise, you can use emojis like 😲 (astonished face) or 😮 (face with open mouth) to convey feelings of shock or astonishment visually.
- Build relationships: Emojis can help convey empathy or affection, such as using 🤗 (hugging face) to show support or 🙌 (raised hands) to celebrate someone’s success.
- Enhance creativity: In social media captions, people often use emojis like 🌟 (star) or 🌸 (flower) to add flair and personality to their posts. For example, “Feeling blessed 🌟✨.”
In both settings, it’s essential to consider the tone of the conversation and your audience’s comfort level. When unsure, you should start with a few emojis to test the waters and then send more based on your audience’s reaction.
Emoji meanings differences across generations
Emojis can have different meanings across different generations, leading to potential misunderstandings in communication.
For example, younger people use emojis more loosely or creatively to capture trends or moments, whereas the older generation tends to use emojis more literally. For example, the smiley emoji 🙂 can mean happiness or friendliness to the older generation but also express sarcasm or irony to the younger generation.
Similarly, the fire emoji 🔥 can mean something hot or trendy to a younger person but also express passion or energy to an older person.
Conclusion
Emojis add flavor to online conversations, making them more emotional and engaging.
However, they can be easily misunderstood, especially when communicating across various devices, platforms, or generations. Emojis can also be misunderstood when used outside the context of social settings and relationship types.
Therefore, when using emojis, it is essential to understand how they display across devices and platforms, contextualize the relationship between the sender and receiver, and consider the settings of the conversation, whether professional or casual.
Thanks for reading the blog post. If you liked it, please share it on your social media and let us know if you want us to cover any emojis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do emojis look different on different phones?
Emojis appear differently across devices because each manufacturer’s design team creates versions of the same symbols.
The Unicode Consortium, an organization that manages the release of emojis, assigns a standard code for each character and emoji to ensure consistency across platforms. This code allows computers and devices to recognize and display the same emoji.
However, once Unicode releases the code for a new emoji, the design itself is left to the developers at each company. As a result, while the underlying code is the same, the appearance of emojis can vary depending on the artistic choices of the designers at different companies.
What do specific hand emoji meanings like the 🤙 mean in WhatsApp?
Known as the “Call Me Hand,” this emoji mimics the gesture for “call me,” suggesting that the sender wants to talk with you on the phone.
How do romantic emojis like 🥰 affect relationship conversations?
Known as the “smiling face with hearts” emoji, this emoji communicates intense emotions toward the receiver and shows that the sender has deep affection for the receiver. In the age of online communication, sending texts alone can sometimes fall short of expressing how we feel.
However, with these kinds of romantic emojis, we can heighten feelings of affection and let our loved ones know that we cherish them.
An older version of this article was authored by Krishna Varma.
