75+ Emoji Meanings You Need to Know: What Do They Really Mean? 

Emoji meanings keep changing. For example: was once meant to be a sad emoji denoting a crying person. Now, with Gen Z taking over the internet, you’ll often see it as a reaction to a very funny or relatable meme.  

So, how do you stay on top of all the emoji faces meaning and ensure that you’re not taking any conversations out of context? With proper research and guidance. (yes, emojis are that serious!)

To further help you out, I have listed 75+ popular emojis and their meanings to help you stay updated with the latest trends. So, if you’ve ever wondered what the purple heart emoji means or what the lightbulb signifies, you’ve landed at the right place.  

Let’s get started! 

Face Emoji Meanings: What Do Face Emojis Mean?  

Decoding the meaning of emoji faces is probably the easiest, so let’s start with the same. Basically, face emojis and their meaning can easily be deciphered after looking at the emoji. Is it smiling or is it sad?  

However, you might get confused when you come across tens of different face emojis with only subtle noticeable differences! Let’s check them out:  

Emoji	Emoji Name	Emoji Meaning
	Grinning Face Emoji	The grinning face emoji represents happiness and excitement. It’s commonly used to show general joy. What does this emoji mean? It’s a simple expression of cheerfulness.
	Face with Tears of Joy	The face with tears of joy emoji is used to convey extreme laughter or something hilarious. Ever wondered what does the tears of joy emoji mean? It’s the go-to emoji for funny moments!
	Heart Eyes Emoji	The heart eyes emoji is all about adoration and love. Curious what does the heart eyes emoji mean? It’s often used to express admiration for something or someone.
	Crying Face Emoji	The  crying face emoji is used to show sadness or disappointment. Wondering what does the crying face emoji mean? It represents moments of sorrow or emotional moments.
	Smiling Face with Sunglasses	“The  smiling face with sunglasses emoji symbolizes confidence or a cool attitude. What does the smiling face with sunglasses emoji mean? It’s often used to express being ‘cool’.”
	Face with Stuck-Out Tongue and Winking Eye	“The emoji is playful, often representing cheekiness or flirtation. What does the winking tongue emoji mean? It’s a fun way to show you’re joking or being mischievous!”
	Thinking Face Emoji	“The thinking face emoji is used to express deep thought or confusion. What does the thinking emoji mean? It signifies pondering, reflection, or questioning.”
	Face Screaming in Fear	“The face screaming in fear emoji is used to show shock or extreme fear. What does the face screaming in fear emoji mean? It’s a great way to show something is terrifying or surprising.”
	Pleading Face Emoji	“The pleading face emoji is often used to show a cute, pleading expression. Curious what does the pleading face emoji mean? It’s used when asking for something earnestly or seeking sympathy.”
	Star-Struck Emoji	“The star-struck emoji represents awe or amazement. Wondering what does the star-struck emoji mean? It’s used to express excitement or admiration for something or someone impressive!”

Heart Emoji Meanings: What Do the Different Color Heart Emojis Mean? 

If you have been active on different social media platforms, you have probably come across different types of heart emojis meanings. But how do you know what does each heart emoji color represent? Let’s check out!  

Emoji	Emoji Name	Emoji Meaning
	Red Heart	The red heart emoji is used to symbolize love, passion, or romance, and is all about deep feelings.
	Purple Heart	Stands for compassion, creativity, or luxury. What does a purple heart emoji mean? It’s regal and caring.
	Blue Heart	If you’ve been wondering what does the blue heart mean, it represents trust, loyalty, or friendship. You can say that it is ideal for showing support.
	Broken Heart	This emoji indicates heartbreak, sadness, or loss. Perfect for showing emotional pain.
	White Heart	What does the white heart emoji mean? It’s calm and classy and used to represent peace and purity.
	Black Heart	Reflects mourning, humor, or gothic vibes. What does the black heart emoji mean? Dark and edgy emotions.
	Yellow Heart	Yellow heart is best used for friendship, happiness, or positivity. You can say that it’s bright and cheerful!
	Green Heart	What does the green heart emoji mean? It’s ideal for showing care for the environment, and also representing growth, harmony, or health.
	Brown Heart	What does the brown heart emoji mean? The brown heart emoji is earthy and grounded. It can be used for symbolizing stability, support, or dependability.
	Heart with Ribbon	Represents a special gift or a token of affection. What does the heart with ribbon emoji mean? It’s a gesture of love or care.

Object Emoji Meanings: Popular Text Message Emoji Meanings 

You name an object and your Android or iOS device probably has an emoji for it. Lightbulb? Check. Clinking glasses? Check.  

And the best part is that these object emojis aren’t used to literally signify an object. For example: a light bulb emoji is used to show an expression of sudden understanding.  

For more such object emojis and their meanings, check out this list:  

Emoji	Emoji Name	Emoji Meaning
	Smartphone	The smartphone emoji represents technology, communication, and staying connected. What does the smartphone emoji mean? It’s for those texting, calling, or browsing the web.
	Red Apple	The red apple emoji represents health, education, or temptation. What does the apple emoji mean? It’s used for back-to-school vibes or promoting healthy living.
	Bullseye	The  bullseye emoji stands for focus, precision, and hitting goals. What does the bullseye emoji mean? It’s about success and achieving your objectives!
	Dove	“The dove emoji symbolizes peace, freedom, and spirituality. What does the dove emoji mean? It’s often used to represent harmony and serenity.”
	Clinking Glasses	The  clinking glasses emoji represents celebration, toasts, or happy occasions. What does the clinking glasses emoji mean? It’s used for moments of joy and raising a toast!
	Laptop	The laptop emoji signifies work, study, or digital communication. It’s used in work-related conversations or to show someone’s online.
	Luggage	The luggage emoji represents travel, vacation, or trips. What does the luggage emoji mean? It’s for when you’re packing or on the go!
	Party Popper	The party popper emoji symbolizes celebration, festivities, or happy moments. What does the party popper emoji mean? It’s all about parties and good times!
	Books	The books emoji represents learning, education, or reading. What does the books emoji mean? It’s used to symbolize studying or knowledge acquisition.
	Trophy	The trophy emoji signifies achievement, success, or victory. What does the trophy emoji mean? It’s for those moments of winning or completing a major milestone!

Social Media Related Emojis: Emoji Reactions That Are Trending 

Social media trends keep changing with time and so do social media emojis. And if you’re not chronically online, it might get hard to keep up with these emoji meanings. As such, you might find yourself wondering about emoji meanings in Snapchat or Instagram.

To make things easier for you, I have listed the commonly used social media related emojis, along with their explanation.  

Emoji	Emoji Name	Emoji Meaning
	Speech Bubble	The speech bubble emoji represents conversations, DMs, or ongoing chats. What does the speech bubble emoji mean? It’s all about communication and engagement!
	Fire	The fire emoji represents trends, excitement, or something impressive. What does the fire emoji mean? It’s used to show something ‘on fire’ or extremely exciting!
	Upward Graph	The upward graph emoji symbolizes growth, progress, or success. What does the upward graph emoji mean? It’s used for showcasing improvement or advancement.
	Eyes	The eyes emoji represents curiosity, focus, or attention. What does the eyes emoji mean? It’s a way to say ‘keep watching’ or ‘look out!’
	Rocket	The rocket emoji suggests rapid success, progress, or achievement. What does the rocket emoji mean? It’s used to indicate fast growth or success.
	Glowing Star	The glowing star emoji represents something exceptional or shining. What does the star emoji mean? It’s for moments of excellence or achievement!
	Collision	The collision emoji symbolizes impact, excitement, or surprise. What does the collision emoji mean? It’s used to express something dramatic or impactful.
	Rainbow	The rainbow emoji signifies hope, diversity, or positivity. What does the rainbow emoji mean? It’s a colorful symbol of inclusion and good vibes.
	Movie Camera	The movie camera emoji represents media, films, or video production. What does the movie camera emoji mean? It’s used to symbolize film, media, or cinematic moments.

What do the Snapchat Emojis Mean? 

Sure, the above-mentioned social media emojis are valid across platforms. But when it comes to Snapchat, you might find yourselves being confused with a few new entries.  

So, to keep it simple and find out what do the Snapchat emojis mean, I have created this whole new section. Let’s check it out.  

Emoji	Emoji Name	Explanation
	Best Friends	Shows that you’re each other’s best friend on Snapchat and send the most snaps to each other.
	Snapstreak	Represents consecutive days of snapping each other, indicating a streak.
	Mutual Best Friend	This means you both share a best friend on Snapchat, signified by the sunglasses emoji.
	Besties	This emoji shows that you’re each other’s #1 best friend on Snapchat.
	Super BFF	Indicates you’ve been each other’s #1 best friend for two weeks straight.
	Super Close Friends	This shows you’ve been best friends for two months or more.
	New Friend	Represents someone you’ve recently added on Snapchat.
	Awkward	Indicates that you both share a mutual best friend, which can feel awkward at times.
	Birthday	Used to signify a friend’s birthday on Snapchat.
	Replay	This emoji means someone has replayed your snap within the last 24 hours.

People Emoji Meanings: What Do Popular Emojis of People Represent? 

People emojis tend to be a little different from face emojis. These emojis are usually used to denote a specific profession or personality type.  

Let’s explore different meaning of emojis here:  

Emoji	Emoji Name	Emoji Meaning
	Baby	The baby emoji represents innocence, beginnings, or someone being adorable. You can also use it to signify a situation where someone is being naive.
	Person with White Hair	The emoji signifies wisdom, experience, or an elderly person. You can use it when a person is giving too much life advice or talking extra maturely.
	Older Person	The emoji represents senior citizens or respect for elders.
	Teacher	The  emoji symbolizes education, guidance, or learning.
	Detective	The emoji signifies mystery, investigation, or someone being curious. Best used in conversation with someone who’s asking too many questions.
	Chef	The  emoji represents cooking, creativity in the kitchen, or food enthusiasts. You can use it for social media posts where you’re showing off your culinary skills.
	Astronaut	If you’re wondering what does the emoji mean, it symbolizes exploration, dreams, or venturing into the unknown.
	People Dancing	The emoji shows fun, celebrations, or people enjoying themselves. I personally like to pair it up with social media posts from a party.
	Singer	The  emoji represents music, performance, or artistic expression.
	Handshake	The emoji symbolizes agreement, teamwork, or collaboration. For example: if you and your friend have just agreed for dinner plans, you can use the emoji to finalize the plan.

Symbol Emoji Meanings: Decoding Common Emoji Symbols and Their Uses 

Symbol emojis aren’t very widely used on social media but you should still know their meanings. Here’s what the symbol emojis stand for:  

Emoji	Emoji Name	Emoji Meaning
	Bell	The bell emoji is used to indicate notifications, alerts, or important announcements. Basically, you can use it in the context of reminders or when drawing attention to something significant.
	Warning	The  emoji represents caution, warning, or potential danger. Used to alert others about risks or to emphasize important precautions.
	Check Mark	The emoji signifies approval, completion, or agreement. You can also use it to mark tasks as done or to show consensus in group discussions.
	Cross Mark	The  emoji represents rejection, disagreement, or something incorrect. It can also be used to indicate something is wrong, unavailable, or to express a negative response.
	Question Mark	The  emoji symbolizes curiosity, confusion, or asking for clarity. You can also use it when seeking clarification or showing uncertainty about something.
	Dizzy	The  emoji shows represents being stunned, star-struck, or amazed. Also used to show dizziness or indicate something magical or special.
	Counterclockwise Arrows	The  emoji symbolizes refresh, reload, or repeat. Often used to indicate updating content or cycling through options.
	Star	The  emoji shows rating, importance, or favoriting something. Commonly used in reviews or to mark something as special or noteworthy.
	Recycling Symbol	The  emoji represents sustainability, eco-friendliness, or reusing resources. Also used to represent processes that repeat or cycle.

Holiday Emoji Meanings: Festive Emojis and Their Seasonal Significance 

Did you notice the increased usage of leaves emoji in the fall season? Similarly, you will notice that the tree emoji is in high demand near the Christmas season.  

Needless to say, emojis change with seasons and you must stay updated with emoji meanings to use them wisely. Here’s my list of holiday emojis to get started with:  

Emoji	Emoji Name	Emoji Meaning
	Jack-O’-Lantern	This pumpkin with a spooky face is a symbol of Halloween, often carved and lit up to create a festive, eerie atmosphere. It’s all about fun, tricks, and treats!
	Christmas Tree	A classic symbol of the holiday season, the Christmas tree is decorated with lights, ornaments, and tinsel, representing joy, family gatherings, and holiday cheer.
	Menorah	” The menorah represents the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. With its nine candles, it symbolizes light, miracles, and the tradition of celebrating the festival of lights.
	Firecracker	Firecrackers emoji is often associated with celebrations like New Year’s and the Fourth of July. They symbolize excitement, noise, and the explosive energy of a festive occasion.
	Turkey	Often seen on Thanksgiving dinner tables, the turkey emoji represents the holiday feast, family gatherings, and gratitude.
	Sparkler	This sparler emoji stands for fireworks, often seen at celebrations, parties, or special events, symbolizing joy, excitement, and a bit of sparkle!
	Gift	The  emoji signifies birthdays, holidays, or any occasion where giving is involved. It’s a symbol of surprise, thoughtfulness, and festive spirit.
	Champagne Bottle	The champagne bottle emoji is often associated with celebrations, particularly New Year’s Eve or weddings, symbolizing luxury, success, and popping bottles for happy moments.
	Socks	The socks emoji can refer to cozy clothing for colder months or gifts, especially during the holidays. It’s often used to symbolize warmth, comfort, and casual gift-giving.

Marketing Emoji Meanings: Emojis That Boost Engagement & CTR 

If you’re a marketer, you must have noticed that adding certain emojis to your ad’s primary text will have a significant impact on your click-through rate.  

So, if you’re wondering how to use emojis in marketing, let’s check out.  

Emoji	Emoji Name	Emoji Meaning
	Shopping Bags	The shopping bags emoji is ideal to be used in ecommerce and retail campaigns about sales, e-commerce, or promoting events like Black Friday or holiday sales.
	Bar Chart	The Bar Chart emoji is all about data, analytics, and performance tracking. It’s commonly used to discuss campaign results and audience metrics.
	Rocket	Use the Rocket emoji launching something new or achieving something great.
	Laptop	The laptop emoji represents work, study, or anything related to digital tasks. You can use it in contexts involving technology, online work, or digital communication.
	Megaphone	The megaphone emoji can be used when you want to amplify your message. Use it Use it in your ads to emphasize promotions, event launches, or big news.
	Envelope with Arrow	The emoji shows emails, communication, or sending marketing campaigns.
	Bullseye	The emoji represents hitting goals, precision, or achieving targets.
	Speaking Head	This emoji works best with ads that feature customer testimonials, influencer endorsements, or word-of-mouth marketing.
	Calendar	The calendar emoji is a symbol for dates, scheduling, and planning. It’s used when talking about events, appointments, or marking important occasions.
	Speech Bubble	You can use the emoji to encourage customer engagement or promote live chat options..

How to Use Emojis in Social Media Marketing Effectively? 

Now that you know about popular emojis and their meanings, let’s talk about how to use emojis in social media marketing in the best way possible.  

Emojis are fun and expressive, but using them effectively means knowing when, where, and how to add them to your messages or content. 

Here are a few tips to keep in mind: 

Match the Mood 

Emojis should reflect the tone of your content or ad copy. If you’re sharing good news, use cheerful emojis like or . For something serious, keep it simple with a or . 

Don’t Overdo It 

Emojis are great, but too many can make your message look cluttered or unprofessional. Only use a few well-placed emojis, instead of lining up a string of them. 

Know Your Audience 

Not everyone interprets emojis the same way. While a younger audience might love playful ones like or , a professional setting might require more neutral ones like or . 

Stay Relevant 

Use emojis that add value to your message. If you’re talking about food, throw in a or . If it’s about travel, a or fits perfectly. 

Use Emojis to Break the Ice 

Emojis can make your message feel friendly and approachable. A simple at the end of a sentence can make a world of difference in tone. 

Stick to Universal Ones 

While some emojis might be trendy, not everyone may recognize them. Stick to well-known emojis for clear communication.  

Test Them in Marketing 

Emojis can boost engagement on social media or emails. Try adding a to highlight a hot offer or a to create urgency in your message. 

Emojis are like a little extra touch to your words—use them carefully to add meaning without overdoing it! 

Conclusion 

Emoji trends change so quick that it is almost impossible to keep up! But don’t worry, I have listed the top 75+ emoji meanings and contexts to ensure your basics are always covered.  

So, if you look at a symbol and wonder what does this emoji mean, go through this guide to find the right answer. And if you want me add a new category, I’ll be more than happy to do so!