this is what the pictures you often send really mean

We can’t live without emoji, but do we really know what we’re sending? This is the meaning of some popular emoji.

Meaning emoji: you actually send this

We are getting more and more emoji, while we are not even used to all the emoji that we can already send. Everyone secretly gives their own meaning to these small pictures. That’s why we explain some commonly used emoji for you. Both the official meaning and the meaning attached to it by many users. The images are from Emojipedia.

Tears of joy

This is possibly the most misused emoji out there. That is not surprising, because it seems as if the face is crying. Although the emoji has friendly eyes, some people see those two tears as sadder than the emoji with a single tear. That’s definitely not right, because this emoji is crying with laughter.

folded hands

This emoji is also interpreted in different ways. One sees it as a high five, the other as praying hands and the other as an emoji to say thank you. There is no wrong way to use these clasped hands, but thanks and prayer are the most commonly used interpretations.

thinking face

What is this hand on chin emoji doing? This means that the emoji is thinking. This indicates that there is thinking, or that it is a deep thought. Also, this emoji can be used to say something mean about someone.

Shrug

You may also know this shrug emoji as ¯_(ツ)_/¯. This indicates that someone does not know enough about something, or does not care enough about something.

Hug

With this emoji you give a hug to someone. Although the hug is clearly given at Apple, other brands also choose to turn the hands towards the face as if someone is hugging themselves. This emoji is therefore regularly used to indicate that something is simply very nice.

Bow

This person appears to be getting a massage or doing push-ups, but neither is true. This person bows deeply to apologize or ask for a great service.

Fire

This emoji seems clear: fire is fire. Still, this emoji is mainly used as a metaphor. For example, the emoji is used to call someone attractive (hot) or to find something excellent (lit).

To beg

Officially this is a pleading emoji, but the emoji is rarely used that way. You should mainly see this emoji as ‘puppy eyes’. This communicates that something is very cute, that someone is shy or that someone has been touched by a loving gesture.

see no evil

This monkey is most often used of the trio ‘see no evil’, ‘hear no evil’ and ‘speak no evil’. The emoji is a playful way to express disbelief or to indicate that something is very uncomfortable.

OK

This is not a commonly used emoji, but a very unclear one. Because what is depicted here? Is it a ballerina? Or someone who puts their hands on their head? No, this person makes an OK sign by forming an O with the body.

Animoji and Memoji

Since iOS 12, in addition to emoji, your iPhone also has Animoji and Memoji. You can read all about these moving figures in our guide.