Today everyone uses emojis (even if there are a bunch of useless emojis, like the abacus, the least used emoji, all years combined) to illustrate their points and be a little more fun. But do you really know their meanings? Do you know what’s behind a heart emoji or a thumbs-up emoji? Government conspiracy? Terrorism? Traffic jams on the Paris ring road? Everything is connected. Survey of the most used emojis.
Face emojis
The face that cries with laughter
This means that you burst out laughing to the point of rolling on the ground as evidenced by these tears full of joy.
The face with heart-shaped eyes
Your face shines and you are happy that’s why hearts spring from your eyes. You can be in love or simply show a lot of love towards something or an object. Ideal to use in a romantic context.
The light smile
In principle, this means that you are happy and everything is fine. But in certain circumstances, it can also have a sarcastic tone that is out of step with the message. Be careful to decode it correctly.
The kissing face
A simple kiss sent from one person to another, the face keeping its eyes open, this emoji is used more in a formal and not intimate context where we prefer the same face with narrowed eyes or even with rosy cheeks.
Face with sunglasses
Show that you are a cool, confident person who is in full control of their life. This emoji is also used in summer, on vacation and obviously at the beach.
The poop face emoji
An emoji that allows you to replace a swear word or criticize someone’s comments. Some also use it to describe their stomach state or just because they like this emoji. After all, they do what they want.
The scared face
Neither more nor less the adaptation of Munch’s cry into an emoji, this frightened and frightening face is used in case of extreme shock. However, its excessive nature allows it to also be used in an ironic context, a way of saying “I don’t give a damn about your gossip Gilbert”.
Angry face
This sulking emoji shows a disgruntled face that’s on the verge of getting seriously angry. Beware ! Maybe think about calming things down before it all goes to shit.
The face with a zipper over the mouth
As one might suspect, this closure shows that the mouth is padlocked and that no secret can be extracted. We use it to show how capable we are of remaining silent in the face of all these people who beg you for gossip. You can also use it when you have nothing to say or don’t have the right words to react to an announcement (preferably a serious announcement, because if you use this emoji when announcing your best friend’s pregnancy, it will be less relevant).
The goofy face sticking out its tongue
This face is completely comical with its winking eye and its stuck out tongue and for good reason! We use it when we’ve just made a joke or we’re in a playful mood. We can also use it when we want to flirt with our interlocutor. This emoji is carefree personified.
The confused face
Difficult to describe this astonishing expression. With this crooked mouth, red cheeks and half-open, half-closed eyes, you can use it when you’re tired, drunk, or simply out of style.
The winking face
An obvious sign of complicity, this wink presents itself here as a mark of confidence and possibly humor. It can be used to validate a claim or reinforce the humorous (or even ironic) nature of a proposition.
The listless face
This face is more than tired, it is rather exhausted and seems to suffer from a host of problems which exhaust it morally and physically. Be careful, whoever sends you this emoji probably needs comfort.
Exhausted cat face
We use this emoji when we’re tired of the classic exhausted emoji or when we haven’t waxed our mustache for a while. It depends. In any case you can use it even if you are not a cat since cats do not use particular emoji, they will not hold it against you.
The face turned upside down
It’s not easy to interpret this disturbing emoji. In principle, it embodies irony or an equivocal message. We use it when we say stupid things or a lame joke.
The grumpy face
It’s not so much that he’s angry, it’s more that he’s annoyed, even dissatisfied. In any case, don’t expect any enthusiasm from your interlocutor if they send you this emoji because they clearly disapprove of what you are saying.
The suffering face
This is the kind of emoji we use when we are suffering and tormented, it is time to go and rest.
The face that sticks out its tongue and squints its eyes
Very practical when you want to make fun of someone (in good spirit), we also use this emoji to be a little provocative or accentuate the dark humor joke that you have just made.
The face that blows its nose
As his message indicates most clearly, this emoji is to be used when you have caught a cold or feel sick. Contrary to what one might believe, it is not a ghost that flies in front of our noses (like all these emojis which have a double meaning)
The smirking face
This emoji is double-edged, on the one hand it can mean irony and facetiousness, on the other it can be used as part of flirting or even sexual advances. So be careful who sends it to you.
The smiling face with a tear
Strange this bittersweet association of a tear and a smile, no? This oxymoronic emoji thus makes it possible to cover a large library of emotions: it can be used to express gratitude, emotional happiness, but also for vexation.
The smiling face with horns
With his smile and his furrowed eyebrows, this little imp embodies impertinence more than anything. We use it when we’re planning something bad like robbing a bank for example (no, that’s not true, according to a study 0% of bank robbers use this emoji).
The smiling face with laughing eyes and three hearts
Like any emoji with hearts, we use it most often when we are in love, happy and in a romantic mood. But you can also use it in a friendly context to show your love, no one will blame you.
The smiling face with rosy cheeks
Joy, happiness, satisfaction and fullness are the key words of this emoji full of happiness that we never use ironically.
Skull
As surprising as it may seem, this skull which normally describes danger or that we are passing away takes on a whole new meaning among our Gen Z friends who use it as a laughing emoji as you will discover in Gen Z’s favorite emojis.
The face that says “shh”
Watch out for that finger in front of your mouth which signals that you have to be suspicious and that you are confiding a secret. Talker alert, we ask you for a little discretion.
The relieved face
Relaxation, recognition and relief run through the emotions of this face.
The face with pleading eyes
A must-have for anyone who knows how to touch where it hurts, this emoji accompanies an important request and is meant to arouse compassion in others.
The party face
Emoji that we have all used at least once to express celebration, a happy event or celebrate good news. When we use it we know that we are going to be in a happy mood.
The neutral face
Absolutely no expression to read on this emoji that we can use as we write pokerface. He expresses nothing, feels nothing. If it were a food it would be a rice cake.
The geek face
With his big glasses and his teeth running after the steak (yes it’s an outdated expression but one that I particularly like) this emoji is a real caricature of a geek and that’s why we recognize him so well.
Disgusted face
A green face like someone sick, on the verge of vomiting. It is most often used to evoke disgust, antipathy or repugnance: it can be addressed to a statement (like people who say “I like pizza crusts”) or to a political character (like Gérald Darmanin).
The melting face
Another of the emojis that change meaning with Gen Z, this melting face expresses discomfort. It can also be used literally as a face that melts due to the heat, very practical during heatwaves.
The face that lies
Like Pinocchio, this emoji with his nose growing longer shows that we have lied and that we have been grilled. OOPS.
The face that cries a lot
No laughter here but just intense tears. It means that we are extremely sad, that we suffer and that we cry without any form of restraint. It can pair with several of the aforementioned emojis. However, be careful! Some people don’t hesitate to re-appropriate it to express hilarity.
The surprised face
“I’m speechless” is what this definitely surprised emoji means. Can be used in case of positive surprise but also negative surprise.
The hug
The tender face, rosy cheeks and hands offered for cuddling, this welcoming emoji is a call for a friendly, family or even romantic hug.
The smiling face
Close to the face dying of laughter, this one comes just before in the gradation of hilarity.
The hot face
We can certainly use it when it’s hot but it is just as relevant to describe a situation where we were hot, in the sense that we had a narrow escape.
The smiling face with a drop of sweat
Way to say “phew!” “. As simple as “phew!” “. Look no further.
The face with a neutral smile
Far from being a pokerface, this emoji expresses more nervousness and embarrassment. With this smile we show that we feel guilty or at least bothered by a situation.
The Japanese Devil
A reference to Tengu (which means “dog of the sky”), this emoji embodies supernatural strength but also misfortune. This goblin expresses everything that is bad in the world like people who put milk before cereal.
The ghost
This little ghost is not very scary with his mischievous look, we rather want to play with him rather than let himself be haunted. We use it a lot during Halloween or to laugh about scary subjects like when we’re telling ourselves a scary urban legend.
Negatively surprised face
Unlike the surprise emoji, this one adapts even better to a critical or at least negative situation. It may express distrust, disappointment or feeling helpless.
The blushing face
Big surprise which is manifested by these bulging eyes, the blush of the cheeks also shows that we feel caught at fault.
The face with an upside down mouth
It’s difficult to put into words the expression on this half-neutral, half-sad, half-disappointed, half-displeased face. Note that it generally marks disapproval. As shown by the pronounced curve of its inverted smile, this emoji is more intense than the simple frowning smiley.
The worried and frightened face
Open mouth, blue top of his head, raised eyebrows, look at this totally helpless little guy who clearly shows his surprise and dismay.
The face without a mouth
Do not see any reference to the cripples of Chernobyl, this face without a mouth is to be analyzed metaphorically as a face without a voice, which does not wish to speak, or at least prefers to abstain but think no less of it if you want My opinion.
The face that sticks out its tongue
Facetious emoji par excellence, it shows, not without a touch of insolence, a form of mockery towards its interlocutor. It can also be used to give an ironic tone to something said or, on the contrary, to bring lightness.
The spiral eyes emoji
Otherwise called dizzy emoji, these vortex eyes (which can also be drawn with X’s) show that you are completely out of character.
The rolling eyes emoji
Beware of the person who sends you this type of emoji, they probably consider you a boring and somewhat annoying person. Cease all conversation here.
The hand over mouth emoji
With his eyes open, this face clearly shows that he is dismayed. His reaction is neither positively nor negatively connoted, it is neutral, it is up to you to give it the attention you wish.
The emoji with a monocle
Like Sherlock Holmes, this emoji offers us an investigator’s cliché and therefore expresses a certain suspicion about the comments that were made.
The emoji with a mask
Hello Coviiiiid. This smiley was part of our daily lives for a long time during confinement and it has strangely lost its hype even though the disease still exists.
The emoji with a headband on the head
I think the message is quite clear, it simply means that we have been hurt and perhaps even that we are in the hospital.
The emoji that smiles but smiles weirdly
What can we say about this strange diagonal smile which signals a certain discomfort? It can be used to express detachment or simple disappointment, in short it doesn’t bode very well for the rest of the exchanges.
The vomiting emoji
Rarely used to show that you are actually vomiting, this emoji is most often used to show disgust, whether for a food item or a law against migrants.
The emoji in the clouds
Like any head in the clouds, it shows that you’re a little foggy, or hungover, or that you’ve farted a lot.
The emoji that smiles and is on the verge of tears
Here is a face full of emotion and recognition which will be used to thank or show gratitude.
The eye emoji
Two big eyes looking at you sideways are of course there to signal a climate of surveillance. Be careful, the walls have ears…
The emoji without the slightest expression
It is not because we do not detect any facial expression on the horizon that this face is not full of meaning. On the contrary, this emoji illustrates a certain form of weariness and exhaustion.
The exploding head emoji
Shock, astonishment, or even overwork, this eloquent face says a lot about the state of its transmitter.
The dotted emoji
This enigmatic face can express a certain form of solitude or the need to fade away… It can mean that we need attention or, on the contrary, that we need to be alone.
The stunned emoji
The open mouth and cross-shaped eyes are yet another emoji to express shock and surprise.
The smiling emoji with laughing eyes
A broad smile, generous teeth and eyes that bring comfort to the heart: this smiley embodies joy although it can also be used in an ironic way, it’s up to you.
Face with cold sweats
The top of the blue head shows that one has cold blood and may follow shocking news.
The smiling alien emoji
We are far from the aliens of Independence Day with this smiling little face which shows that the aliens may be among us, but that everything is fine.
Heart smileys
A yellow heart
Not really yellow but rather gold, this heart symbolizes the purity of your feelings, but also joy, happiness.
The white heart
He may look gray, but I assure you that he is white and it is not for nothing since he expresses a pure but platonic love.
The two hearts
Not necessarily used in a context of seduction, this double heart is more on the side of the decorative aspect to create a romantic or friendly atmosphere.
The heart that shines
Stars that sparkle to show that our heart sparkles for the one who receives it.
The two hearts that revolve around each other
With this movement, the two hearts seem to fly away in a prodigious whirlwind of love. This smiley can also be used to show the recipient that we want to see our two hearts practicing this dance of love.
The red heart
Certainly one of the most used symbols since it embodies love in its greatest simplicity. You can send it to friends or to loved ones or to family. However, do not send it to your notary.
The purple heart
A very particular color to express caring love, often used in the world of fashion and to express glamor.
Heart with a ribbon
Most often used for Valentine’s Day, this ribboned heart means you’re receiving the gift of love. It’s super nice even if personally I would have preferred tunes.
The heart pierced by an arrow
One of the best-known symbols of our imagination, it purely and simply expresses the romantic relationship.
Heart on fire
Here you are on fire with love, this is the step after the simple heart since you show your highly passionate state for someone (or an activity, a work, your cat, after all it’s yours to decide what you are passionate about).
A heart as an exclamation point
It can be used as a classic exclamation point but a little more aesthetic, it can also emphasize the fact that we appreciate something in particular.
The heart that grows
It is not a simple heart that we see there but rather a heart in full evolution which is growing and growing because its love continues to grow.
The green heart
As the color green often expresses, this heart refers to the love of nature and living things. However, it is also used for St. Patrick’s Day or to express jealousy in a couple. Ultimately it is a symbol with various meanings.
The brown heart
Not the most elegant color and this is why we rarely use it in couples but rather to express filial love, but also a certain feeling of solitude and distance. Beware of the brown heart, you have to pay a little attention to it!
Broken heart
Not surprisingly, a broken heart shows that the relationship is no more, and that the contract of trust has been broken. Whoever sends it is very unhappy.
The blue heart
Unlike the red heart, the blue heart expresses platonic love or a mark of trust. Furthermore, it is symbolic support for certain causes such as autism.
The black heart
We can certainly use it to reveal our dark side and a feeling of mourning, but we can also use it to further highlight the black humor of our words.
The beating heart
A little more vibrant than a simple heart, this one shows that it is in great shape and undoubtedly beats wildly for the one to whom it is sent.
Hand smileys
Thumbs up
An essential symbol of “like”, the thumbs up shows that you approve/validate a proposal, it is the most literal translation of the word “cool” in the form of a smiley.
Thumb down
Unlike the thumbs up, the thumb pointed towards the ground shows that we do not agree with something or that we express our dissatisfaction with information.
The hand that says hello
This waving hand can be used to say hello, goodbye, or more commonly to wish the recipient a good trip.
The Vulcanian Salvation
With its fingers spread in an atypical way to form the letter V gained notoriety with the character of Spock in the series “Star Trek”, it expresses prosperity but also originally means a Jewish blessing.
The V sign
Used indiscriminately on a daily basis for anything and everything, the origin of this finger sign refers above all to victory but also to peace since our friends the hippies of the 60s.
The tight stitch directed to the left or right
Often used as a mirror to form two points that check each other. It is a sign of friendship that can only be used with a fairly close circle (it is not appropriate to send it to your N+2).
The Alleluiah sign
With these hands stretched upwards, we express above all joy and above all the desire to party. Some would say that it is the smiley translation of the Japanese expression “banzaï”.
The raised fist
Very symbolically charged, the fist pointing upwards expresses opposition, revolt, anger but also will and strength. It is a rallying symbol, often politically, to fight against a dominant order.
The hand that pinches with the fingers
As shown by this approach between the thumb and the index finger, this emoji expresses the small amount of something.
Fingertips together
This signoftensystematically associated with Italians, he can express refusal and incomprehension. Very caricatured, it is preferably used in the second degree (and quickly loses its original meaning as it can be used excessively for anything and everything).
Hands side by side facing up
Can be used to ask for money or as a prayer. Although among our overseas cousins it can also symbolize an open book.
Hand with palm down
This rather vague gesture, it must be said, can have many meanings. We can see it as a hand that holds the strings of a puppet to show that we are (a little too) in control of a delicate situation, we can also see it as a gesture that shows that we are doing averagely, a sort of from “so-so” to emoji.
Open hands
A simple smiley to express openness and recognition.
The sign to say that all is well
By forming this circle with the thumb and index finger, we translate the smiley into “OK” even if in some countries it can be seen as an insult (in several Mediterranean countries in particular).
The middle finger
Not very friendly, this well-known sign shows that we openly insult the recipient, either to respond to an attack or to signal that we have no other feelings than contempt for this person.
Hand with horns
This astonishing shape of the hand supposed to form horns is considered to be the devil’s salvation but also refers to the love of metal music, the everyday gesture no longer carries as much meaning and can also express approval or approval. way of saying “cool”.
Index finger raised
Like the school class, this sign simply shows that we want to speak.
The finger pointed at the interlocutor
A way of pointing very directly at your interlocutor, this smiley is most often used as an accusatory gesture towards the recipient.
The handshake
This wonderful association shows that we are ready to do business, it is a way of demonstrating our confidence.
Raised hand
Be careful with interpretations because this hand can be used to greet someone and/or indicate approval/congratulations but can also mean that we have had enough and that the conversation must stop. Keep your eyes peeled and listen if you come across this emoji.
Hands in prayer
This is an emoji whose true meaning we don’t know. Used universally as hands in prayer, it nevertheless basically means a “high five” sign with two hands coming together.
The telephone sign with the hand
This shape of the hand refers to the telephone and therefore means that we will call each other soon. That said, for surfers it’s another rallying sign to say that we are cool and relaxed people.
Hand with fingers crossed
As we all do on a daily basis, this emoji is used to invoke luck. It can be used to say “good luck” to someone or to express hope.
Food and drink emojis
Apricot
We are not going to go over all the fruit and vegetable emoji in the repertoire here, but above all those which have a double meaning, most often tendentious. In this case, the apricot is mainly used to symbolize a pair of buttocks.
Eggplant
Like the apricot, the use of this emoji cannot exist without sexual connotation (or in the very specific case of a conversation around ratatouille, but admit that this is rather rare). Eggplant is more often associated with the male phallus, it must be said.
The bottle of champagne with the popping cork
It’s time to party, friends! The champagne is flowing and this emoji is welcome to celebrate good news and congratulate those who receive it. We also give it a sexual connotation linked to the shape and the explosion of the cork, I’ll let you imagine what that might make you think of.
The popcorns
When do you eat popcorn? At the cinema of course. This smiley will be interpreted as an invitation to have an evening in a dark room or by extension, a simple TV set.
Oyster
We once told you about emojis that are useless and we must admit that this is certainly one of them. But we had to mention one. Here it is. An oyster emoji. For all oyster farming fans.
The cherries
Of course we see a pair of cherries there, but it’s much more than all that. Indeed, their heart shape allows this emoji to also be used in a romantic context, such as a kiss or even the forbidden fruit (= a sexual organ, not a fruit that is illegal to eat, make an effort to understanding please).
Object emojis
A bomb
Very practical to use when you release major information (more rarely used literally in the first degree).
The painter’s palette
It’s time to reveal your artistic soul. As evidenced by this emoji, we are in the mood to let ourselves be carried away by our creativity.
