230+ Emoji Meanings 2024 - Emoji Guide: How to Use Emojis

We live in a world of emojis.

What started off as simple emoticons years ago—remember :) ?—has expanded into a pictorial smorgasbord of thousands of cutesy faces, characters, and symbols that help give a spark of personality to texting conversations.

(To date, there are 3,664 emojis available in the United States.)

In the absence of body language, emojis can be an aid to clearer communication, helping convey “tone of voice.”

That is, if you know what the emojis mean…

So what do all these different emojis mean? In this guide, we’ll walk you through over 230 emoji meanings. (You’ll find them categorized by type for easy reference.)

Go ahead and dive into the world of emojis by clicking the link for the category you’re most curious about!

(You can also get a free download of this guide by clicking here.)

What Are Emojis?

Emojis are small images that are used in text conversation to help convey meaning, emotion, and tone.

Emojis, then, are the “body language” of written communication.

Emojis are becoming more and more acceptable in a variety of situations beyond simply personal conversations. They are also now considered acceptable in many workplace environments for texting or chat conversations between colleagues, and even in communicating with customers in some contexts.

Regardless of the circumstance in which you’re using emojis, the key is to make sure your intended recipient understands the meaning of what you’re trying to convey.

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Face Emoji Meanings

	Descriptions	Emoji Meanings
😂	Face with Tears of Joy	Used to indicate laughter or extreme amusement.
😍	Heart Eyes	Expresses intense admiration, love, or infatuation.
🤔	Thinking Face	Represents contemplation, curiosity, or pondering a question.
😊	Smiling Face with Smiling Eyes	Conveys genuine happiness or friendliness.
🥰	Smiling Face with Hearts	Shows affection, joy, and excitement.
😭	Loudly Crying Face	Depicts intense sadness, heartbreak, or overwhelming emotions.
🤣	Rolling on the Floor Laughing	Indicates uncontrollable laughter and amusement.
😎	Smiling Face with Sunglasses	Represents coolness, confidence, or nonchalance.
🥺	Pleading Face	Used to express a pleading or begging emotion.
🤗	Hugging Face	Depicts a warm hug, affection, or friendliness.
🤩	Star-Struck	Expresses amazement, admiration, or being impressed.
🤐	Zipper-Mouth Face	Indicates keeping a secret, silence, or holding back words.
🙃	Upside-Down Face	Represents playfulness, sarcasm, or an alternate perspective.
🥳	Party Popper	Used to celebrate and express excitement for special occasions.
😜	Winking Face with Tongue	Implies joking, teasing, or playfulness.
😅	Grinning Face with Sweat	Indicates nervous laughter or relief after overcoming a challenge.
😑	Expressionless Face	Represents a lack of emotion, indifference, or annoyance.
😏	Smirking Face	Conveys a sly, mischievous, or self-satisfied attitude.
🤑	Money-Mouth Face	Depicts wealth, success, or a money-related topic.
🤭	Face with Hand Over Mouth	Represents surprise, shock, or covering up a secret.
😴	Sleeping Face	Indicates sleepiness, boredom, or disinterest.
😷	Face with Medical Mask	Used to signify illness, protection, or health precautions.
🤢	Nauseated Face	Depicts feeling sick, disgusted, or repulsed.
😤	Face with Steam From Nose	Represents frustration, anger, or annoyance.
😕	Confused Face	Indicates puzzlement, uncertainty, or being lost.
😳	Flushed Face	Conveys embarrassment, shyness, or surprise.
🥴	Woozy Face	Represents dizziness or feeling disoriented.
🤯	Exploding Head	Depicts being overwhelmed with amazement, shock, or disbelief.
😇	Smiling Face with Halo	Conveys innocence, virtue, or being angelic.
😰	Anxious Face with Sweat	Indicates worry, stress, or nervousness.
🥵	Hot Face	Represents feeling extremely hot, either due to weather or emotions.
🥶	Cold Face	Depicts feeling extremely cold or emotionally distant.
😓	Downcast Face with Sweat	Conveys disappointment, relief, or exhaustion.
😩	Weary Face	Represents tiredness, frustration, or being overwhelmed.
😠	Angry Face	Indicates anger, annoyance, or strong dissatisfaction.
😖	Confounded Face	Conveys distress, frustration, or feeling perplexed.
😪	Sleepy Face	Indicates sleepiness, tiredness, or boredom.
😵	Dizzy Face	Represents feeling dizzy, disoriented, or lightheaded.
🤪	Crazy Face	Conveys a sense of wildness, fun, or eccentricity.
🤔	Thinking Face	Depicts deep contemplation, reflection, or curiosity.
🤓	Nerd Face	Indicates intelligence, enthusiasm for learning, or geekiness.
😧	Anguished Face	Conveys extreme distress, pain, or sorrow.
🥺	Pleading Face	Represents a heartfelt plea, vulnerability, or a cute expression.
🤗	Hugging Face	Depicts a warm hug, affection, or friendliness.
😱	Screaming Face	Depicts extreme shock, fear, or astonishment.

Hand Gesture Emoji Meanings

	Descriptions	Emoji Meanings
🙌	Raising Hands	Used to celebrate success, excitement, or to show praise.
🙏	Folded Hands	Represents prayer, gratitude, or a request for help.
👍	Thumbs Up	Represents approval, agreement, or a positive affirmation.
👎	Thumbs Down	Indicates disapproval, disagreement, or a negative sentiment.
✌️	Victory Hand	Conveys victory, peace, or a two-finger salute.
🤞	Crossed Fingers	Represents hoping for good luck or success.
🖐️	Raised Hand	Indicates a greeting, stopping, or a hand gesture.
🤝	Handshake	Depicts a friendly agreement, partnership, or cooperation.
🤟	Love-You Gesture	Represents love, affection, or "I love you."
🤘	Sign of the Horns	Conveys rock-and-roll or coolness.
🖖	Vulcan Salute	Recognizes the "Star Trek" greeting or a sign of peace.

Food Emoji Meanings

	Descriptions	Emoji Meanings
🍇	Grapes	Represents grapes, symbolizing fruitfulness, abundance, or wine.
🍈	Melon	Conveys a melon, symbolizing refreshment, sweetness, or summertime.
🍉	Watermelon	Depicts a watermelon, symbolizing summer, thirst-quenching, or picnics.
🍊	Tangerine	Represents a tangerine or orange, symbolizing citrus, vitality, or energy.
🍋	Lemon	Conveys a lemon, symbolizing sourness, brightness, or cleansing.
🍌	Banana	Depicts a banana, symbolizing fruit, energy, or a playful tone.
🍍	Pineapple	Represents a pineapple, symbolizing hospitality, exoticism, or welcoming.
🍎	Red Apple	Conveys a red apple, symbolizing education, health, or temptation.
🍏	Green Apple	Depicts a green apple, symbolizing nature, freshness, or choices.
🍐	Pear	Represents a pear, symbolizing health, a delicate nature, or maturity.
🍒	Cherries	Depicts cherries, symbolizing indulgence, or duality.
🍓	Strawberry	Represents a strawberry, symbolizing sweetness, love, or small pleasures.
🍅	Tomato	Conveys a tomato, symbolizing vegetables, culinary delights, or summer.
🌶️	Hot Pepper	Represents a hot pepper, symbolizing spiciness, excitement, or intensity.
🫑	Bell Pepper	Conveys a bell pepper, symbolizing color, flavor, or variety.
🌽	Corn	Depicts a corn ear, symbolizing harvest, agriculture, or simplicity.
🍞	Bread	Conveys bread, symbolizing sustenance, basic needs, or simplicity.
🥐	Croissant	Depicts a croissant, symbolizing breakfast, French culture, or delicacy.
🥖	Baguette Bread	Represents a baguette, symbolizing France, cuisine, or tradition.
🥨	Pretzel	Conveys a pretzel, symbolizing snacks, twists, or baked goods.
🥯	Bagel	Depicts a bagel, symbolizing breakfast, Jewish culture, or roundness.
🥞	Pancakes	Represents pancakes, symbolizing breakfast, comfort, or indulgence.
🧀	Cheese Wedge	Conveys a cheese wedge, symbolizing dairy, flavor, or richness.
🍖	Meat on Bone	Depicts meat on a bone, symbolizing food, sustenance, or feasting.
🍗	Poultry Leg	Represents a poultry leg, symbolizing food, BBQ, or protein.
🥩	Cut of Meat	Conveys a cut of meat, symbolizing cooking, dining, or choice.
🥓	Bacon	Depicts bacon, symbolizing breakfast, indulgence, or sizzle.
🍔	Hamburger	Represents a hamburger, symbolizing fast food, satisfaction, or craving.
🍟	French Fries	Conveys French fries, symbolizing fast food, comfort, or side dish.
🍕	Pizza	Depicts a pizza slice, symbolizing food, sharing, or casual dining.
🌭	Hot Dog	Represents a hot dog, symbolizing casual food, BBQ, or outdoor events.
🥪	Sandwich	Depicts a sandwich, symbolizing meals, lunch, or a quick bite.
🌮	Taco	Depicts a taco, symbolizing Mexican cuisine, flavor, or street food.
🍱	Bento Box	Conveys a bento box, symbolizing Japanese cuisine, variety, or lunch.
🍲	Pot of Food	Depicts a pot of food, symbolizing cooking, meals, or sustenance.
🍛	Curry Rice	Represents curry rice, symbolizing Indian cuisine, flavor, or spice.
🍜	Steaming Bowl	Conveys a steaming bowl, symbolizing warmth, comfort, or soup.
🍝	Spaghetti	Depicts spaghetti, symbolizing Italian cuisine, long noodles, or twirls.
🍠	Roasted Sweet Potato	Represents a roasted sweet potato, symbolizing autumn or comfort food.
🍢	Oden	Conveys oden, a Japanese hot pot dish, symbolizing warmth or comfort.
🍣	Sushi	Depicts sushi, symbolizing Japanese cuisine, elegance, or seafood.
🍤	Fried Shrimp	Represents fried shrimp, symbolizing seafood, snacks, or indulgence.
🍥	Fish Cake with Swirl	Conveys a fish cake with swirl, a common ingredient in Asian dishes, symbolizing flavor, texture, or variety.
🍡	Dango	Depicts dango, a Japanese sweet treat, symbolizing traditional snacks or simplicity.
🍦	Soft Ice Cream	Conveys soft-serve ice cream, symbolizing dessert, treats, or summer.
🍧	Shaved Ice	Represents shaved ice, often flavored with syrup, symbolizing coolness or refreshment.
🍨	Ice Cream	Depicts a scoop of ice cream, symbolizing dessert, happiness, or enjoyment.
🍩	Doughnut	Conveys a doughnut, symbolizing sweets, indulgence, or a ring shape.
🍪	Cookie	Represents a cookie, symbolizing treats, comfort, or sharing.
🎂	Birthday Cake	Conveys a birthday cake, symbolizing celebrations, milestones, or birthdays.
🍰	Shortcake	Represents a slice of shortcake, symbolizing dessert, celebrations, or special occasions.
🧁	Cupcake	Depicts a cupcake, symbolizing sweetness, celebrations, or small indulgences.
🍫	Chocolate Bar	Conveys a chocolate bar, symbolizing treats, comfort, or indulgence.
🍬	Candy	Represents candy, symbolizing sweetness, treats, or childhood memories.
🍭	Lollipop	Conveys a lollipop, symbolizing sweets, enjoyment, or a playful mood.
🍮	Custard	Depicts a custard dessert, symbolizing comfort, sweetness, or indulgence.
☕	Hot Beverage	Represents a cup of hot beverage, such as coffee or tea, symbolizing warmth or relaxation.
🍵	Teacup without Handle	Conveys a teacup without a handle, symbolizing tea, relaxation, or mindfulness.
🍶	Sake	Depicts a sake bottle, symbolizing Japanese rice wine or celebration.
🍼	Baby Bottle	Represents a baby bottle, symbolizing infancy, care, or parenthood.
🍻	Clinking Beer Mugs	Conveys clinking beer mugs, symbolizing toasting, celebration, or friendship.
🥂	Clinking Glasses	Depicts clinking champagne glasses, symbolizing toasting, celebrations, or special occasions.
🥃	Tumbler Glass	Represents a tumbler glass, often used for whiskey or cocktails, symbolizing drinks or relaxation.
🍷	Wine Glass	Conveys a wine glass, symbolizing wine, sophistication, or relaxation.
🍸	Cocktail Glass	Depicts a cocktail glass, symbolizing cocktails, parties, or socializing.
🍹	Tropical Drink	Represents a tropical drink with an umbrella, symbolizing vacation, relaxation, or exotic flavors.
🍺	Beer Mug	Conveys a beer mug, symbolizing beer, socializing, or casual enjoyment.
🧂	Salt	Conveys a salt shaker, symbolizing seasoning, flavor, or preservation.
🍯	Honey Pot	Represents a honey pot, symbolizing sweetness, nature, or comfort.

Character Emoji Meanings

	Descriptions	Emoji Meanings
🤷	Shrugging Shoulders	Conveys uncertainty, confusion, or lack of knowledge.
🤖	Robot Face	Represents a robot or a playful reference to technology.
🧜‍♀️	Mermaid	Represents a mermaid or signifies beauty, mystery, or the sea.
🧜‍♂️	Merman	Depicts a merman or represents aquatic allure and masculinity.
🧚	Fairy	Conveys a fairy or symbolizes magic, enchantment, or a mystical aura.
🧝	Elf	Represents an elf or signifies fantasy, wisdom, or nature.
🧙‍♂️	Wizard	Depicts a wizard or represents magic or knowledge.
🧛‍♂️	Vampire	Conveys a vampire or signifies darkness, mystery, or eternal life.
🧟‍♂️	Zombie	Represents a zombie or signifies horror, decay, or the undead.
🦹‍♂️	Supervillain	Depicts a supervillain or signifies mischief, chaos, or power.
🦸‍♂️	Superhero	Conveys a superhero or represents bravery, justice, or heroism.

Animal Emoji Meanings

	Descriptions	Emoji Meanings
🦄	Unicorn Face	Conveys uniqueness, fantasy, or something rare.
🐶	Dog Face	Depicts a dog or represents loyalty, companionship, or cuteness.
🐱	Cat Face	Represents a cat or signifies independence, curiosity, or playfulness.
🐼	Panda Face	Conveys a panda or symbolizes gentleness, calmness, or black-and-white thinking.
🐵	Monkey Face	Depicts a monkey or represents playful behavior, mischief, or cleverness.
🦁	Lion Face	Represents a lion or symbolizes strength, courage, or leadership.
🐯	Tiger Face	Conveys a tiger or signifies power, fierceness, or determination.
🐰	Rabbit Face	Depicts a rabbit or symbolizes fertility, speed, or cuteness.
🐻	Bear Face	Represents a bear or signifies strength, protection, or a cozy feeling.
🦊	Fox Face	Conveys a fox or symbolizes cleverness, adaptability, or cunning.
🦓	Zebra Face	Represents a zebra or signifies balance, individuality, or uniqueness.
🐮	Cow Face	Depicts a cow or represents calmness, gentleness, or a rural vibe.
🐷	Pig Face	Conveys a pig or symbolizes indulgence, playfulness, or messiness.
🐸	Frog Face	Represents a frog or signifies transformation, rebirth, or adaptability.
🦖	T-Rex	Depicts a Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur or symbolizes ancient times, power, or fear.
🦕	Sauropod	Represents a sauropod dinosaur or signifies ancient times, enormity, or stability.
🐔	Chicken	Depicts a chicken or represents fearfulness, timidity, or food.
🐦	Bird	Conveys a bird or symbolizes freedom, communication, or watching over.
🐧	Penguin	Represents a penguin or signifies adaptability, community, or cold environments.
🦅	Eagle	Represents an eagle or signifies strength, vision, or majesty.
🦉	Owl	Depicts an owl or represents wisdom, intuition, or nocturnal traits.
🦆	Duck	Conveys a duck or symbolizes resourcefulness, adaptability, or playfulness.
🦚	Peacock	Represents a peacock or signifies beauty, pride, or elegance.
🦜	Parrot	Depicts a parrot or symbolizes communication, mimicry, or tropical vibes.
🦢	Swan	Conveys a swan or represents grace, elegance, or transformation.
🕊️	Dove of Peace	Symbolizes peace, hope, purity, or a message of goodwill.
🦩	Flamingo	Depicts a flamingo or signifies vibrancy, balance, or standing out.

Nature Emoji Meanings

	Descriptions	Emoji Meanings
🌊	Water Wave	Represents water, the ocean, or signifies fluidity and movement.
💧	Droplet	Conveys a single water droplet, symbolizing liquid or a tear.
🔥	Fire	Conveys fire or heat, symbolizing passion, destruction, or energy.
🌋	Volcano	Depicts a volcano, symbolizing eruption, power, or intensity.
🌴	Palm Tree	Conveys a palm tree, symbolizing a tropical or relaxing environment.
🌵	Cactus	Represents a cactus, symbolizing endurance or the desert.
🌾	Sheaf of Rice	Depicts a bundle of rice, symbolizing agriculture or sustenance.
🌼	Blossom	Conveys a flower in bloom, symbolizing growth, beauty, or spring.
🍂	Fallen Leaf	Depicts a fallen leaf, symbolizing autumn or change.
🌷	Tulip	Represents a tulip, symbolizing spring, elegance, or romance.
🌱	Seedling	Conveys a young plant sprout, symbolizing growth or new beginnings.
🍁	Maple Leaf	Depicts a maple leaf, symbolizing autumn or Canadian identity.
🍃	Leaf Fluttering in Wind	Represents a leaf blowing in the wind, symbolizing change or fragility.
🍄	Mushroom	Conveys a mushroom, symbolizing nature, growth, or fantasy.
🌍	Earth Globe Europe-Africa	Represents the Earth, symbolizing the planet, global issues, or travel.
🌎	Earth Globe Americas	Depicts the Earth from the Americas perspective.
🌏	Earth Globe Asia-Australia	Depicts the Earth from the Asia and Australia perspective.
🌝	Full Moon with Face	Depicts a full moon with a face, symbolizing night or a playful mood.
🌚	New Moon with Face	Represents a new moon with a face, symbolizing darkness or secrecy.
🌑	New Moon	Conveys a new moon, symbolizing beginnings, renewal, or mystery.
🌒	Waxing Crescent Moon	Depicts a waxing crescent moon, symbolizing growth or transition.
🌓	First Quarter Moon	Represents the first quarter moon phase, symbolizing progress.
🌔	Waxing Gibbous Moon	Conveys a waxing gibbous moon phase, symbolizing advancement.
🌕	Full Moon	Depicts a full moon, symbolizing completion, fulfillment, or illumination.
🌖	Waning Gibbous Moon	Represents the waning gibbous moon phase.
🌗	Last Quarter Moon	Depicts the last quarter moon phase, symbolizing reflection.
🌘	Waning Crescent Moon	Conveys the waning crescent moon phase, symbolizing release.
🌙	Crescent Moon	Represents a crescent moon, symbolizing the night or dreams.
🌛	First Quarter Moon Face	Represents the first quarter moon with a face, symbolizing optimism.
🌜	Last Quarter Moon Face	Depicts the last quarter moon with a face, symbolizing reflection.

Weather Emoji Meanings

	Descriptions	Emoji Meanings
🌞	Sun with Face	Represents the sun, sunshine, happiness, or warmth.
☁️	Cloud	Represents a cloud, symbolizing overcast weather or vagueness.
🌧️	Cloud with Rain	Depicts a cloud with rain, representing rainy weather.
⛅	Sun Behind Cloud	Represents partly cloudy weather or a mix of sun and clouds.
🌤️	Sun Behind Small Cloud	Conveys partly sunny weather or a bit of sunshine.
⛈️	Cloud with Lightning and Rain	Depicts a thunderstorm with lightning and rain.
❄️	Snowflake	Represents snow, winter, or cold weather.
☃️	Snowman	Depicts a snowman, symbolizing winter or the holiday season.
🌨️	Cloud with Snow	Conveys snowy weather or the possibility of snow.
💨	Dashing Away	Represents speed, leaving quickly, or a gust of wind.
🌪️	Tornado	Depicts a tornado, symbolizing danger or chaos.
🌫️	Fog	Depicts foggy weather or a sense of haziness.
🌬️	Wind Face	Represents wind blowing, indicating breezy weather.

Object Emoji Meanings

	Descriptions	Emoji Meanings
🍾	Bottle with Popping Cork	Conveys a bottle with a popping cork, symbolizing celebration, success, or achievements.
🥄	Spoon	Represents a spoon, symbolizing eating, cooking, or a utensil.
🍴	Fork and Knife	Conveys a fork and knife, symbolizing dining, eating, or a meal.
🍽️	Fork and Knife with Plate	Depicts a fork and knife beside a plate, symbolizing dining or a meal.
🥢	Chopsticks	Represents chopsticks, symbolizing Asian cuisine, culture, or eating.
🚀	Rocket	Conveys a rocket, symbolizing speed, progress, or ambition.
🛸	Flying Saucer	Depicts a flying saucer, symbolizing extraterrestrial or futuristic themes.
🛰️	Satellite	Represents a satellite, symbolizing technology, communication, or observation.
🌡️	Thermometer	Conveys a thermometer, symbolizing temperature, health, or measurement.
⏱️	Stopwatch	Conveys a stopwatch, symbolizing timing, speed, or competition.
🔗	Link	Represents a link symbol, symbolizing connections, relationships, or unity.

Symbol Emoji Meanings

	Descriptions	Emoji Meanings
❤️	Red Heart	Represents love, affection, or deep emotional connections.
💥	Collision	Depicts a collision or explosion, symbolizing impact or sudden change.
🌐	Globe with Meridians	Represents the Earth's meridians and parallels, symbolizing global connectivity.
💫	Dizzy	Represents dizziness or a disoriented state, symbolizing confusion or bewilderment.
💢	Anger Symbol	Conveys an anger symbol, symbolizing frustration, annoyance, or intensity.
💦	Sweat Droplets	Depicts sweat droplets, symbolizing physical exertion, nervousness, or humidity.
💬	Speech Balloon	Conveys a speech balloon, symbolizing speech, conversation, or communication.
💭	Thought Balloon	Represents a thought balloon, symbolizing thinking, contemplation, or ideas.
💤	Zzz	Conveys sleep or snoring, symbolizing tiredness, boredom, or disinterest.
⛔	No Entry Sign	Conveys a no entry sign, symbolizing restricted access or prohibition.
🚫	Prohibited	Depicts a prohibited sign, symbolizing restrictions, rules, or bans.
🎵	Musical Note	Represents a musical note, symbolizing music, harmony, or sound.
🎶	Musical Notes	Conveys musical notes, symbolizing music, rhythm, or melody.
❌	Cross Mark	Conveys a cross mark, symbolizing rejection, incorrectness, or deletion.
❗	Exclamation Mark	Represents an exclamation mark, symbolizing emphasis, surprise, or urgency.
❓	Question Mark	Conveys a question mark, symbolizing inquiry, uncertainty, or curiosity.
⚡	High Voltage	Represents a high voltage sign, symbolizing electricity, energy, or power.
🌀	Cyclone	Represents a cyclone, symbolizing storms, turbulence, or change.

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