A Parent’s Guide To Emoji

Faces

😃 (Grinning Face) = Used sarcastically, similar to the single tear emoji.

🙂 (Slightly Smiling Face) = Meant to convey being passive-aggressive or sarcastic.

🙃 (Upside-Down Face) = Similar meaning to above, but showing more discontentment, displeasure, or frustration.

😳 (Astonished Face) = Surprise or judgment.

😌 (Relieved Face) = Trying to contain your excitement/be nonchalant.

😭 (Loudly Crying Face) = Something was so funny you started to cry (can also be used to display shock or surprise).

🥺 (Pleading Face) = Sad, desiring comfort, can be used after expressing something vulnerable. Used to express sadness, whereas the loudly crying face emoji above can be used for sadness, but also disappointment, irony, etc.

😶‍🌫️ (Face in Clouds) = Hiding, having your head in the clouds about something.

🥲 (Face With Single Tear) = Despair. Used when things are hanging on by a thread. Can also be used when something is so bad/painful it is funny, ‘I accidentally said I love you to my boss at the end of a work call.’

🫣 (Face With Peeking Eye) & 🥸 (Disguised Face) = Hiding oneself after saying something direct to try to soften the message (ex: “I forgot to defrost the chicken like you asked, Mom 🫣”).

🤨 (Face With Raised Eyebrow) = Suspicious.

😗 (Kissing Face) = Casual approval, positive.

🤪 (Zany Face) = Feeling silly, lightens up something disappointing or sad (ex: “Got an F on my algebra final 🤪”).

🤠 (Cowboy Hat Face) = Smiling through the pain. Similar usage to Zany Face.

🤓 (Nerd Face) = Childlike excitement/dorkiness.

🥶 (Cold Face) = Being cold, emotionally and/or physically.

🥴 (Woozy Face) = Unease.

🤭 (Blushing Face, Hand Over Mouth) = Excitement.

🫡 (Saluting Face) = Agreement, a sign of respect. The emoticon version of “Yes, Sir!”

😶 (Face Without Mouth) = At a loss for words.

🫠 (Melting Face) = Overwhelmed, a sinking feeling of dread.

Good to Know

🎯 (Bullseye) = Used to say that something is accurate.

🤡 (Clown) = Describing someone being foolish.

📈📉(Chart Increasing & Chart Decreasing) = Things going well, or poorly (depending on direction of chart).

👀 (Eyes) = Many different meanings, mostly used to display suspicion. Can also be used as a way to inquire for more information (ex: “I heard you and Alex got in a fight 👀”).

👁👄👁 (Eyes & Lips) = A display of shock, recreating a deadpan face.

🔥 (Fire) = Used to say that something is “fire” (meaning good, or cool).

🙏 (Folded Hands) = Used to say thank you.

🫶 (Heart Hands) = Used in place of the traditional ❤  emoji.

💯 (Hundred Points) = Used to signal agreement with something.

👨‍🦯 (Man With White Cane) = Choosing to make a decision, even if someone knows it’s a bad idea (going in blind to something or ignoring red flags).

🙈 (See-No-Evil Monkey) = Being shy.

✨ (Sparkles) = Used to lighten the mood (ex: “Just spilled my coffee all over my white pants ✨”).

🧎 (Woman Kneeling) = Pleading. A way of asking someone for something desperately.

Not What You Think They Mean

💀 (Skull) = Something was so funny that you died. This is used instead of the laughing crying emoji (😂) by Gen Z/Alpha.

🧢 (Billed Cap) = Derived from the slang word “that’s cap” which refers to calling out someone for telling a lie.

👍 (Thumbs Up) = Seen as outdated, can be used sarcastically to show approval. Can also be passive-aggressive (ex: “Thanks for ruining Sarah’s surprise party 👍”).

🫦 (Lip Bite) = Flirting, is usually sarcastic (ex: “I love when my husband wears cargo shorts 🫦”).

💅 (Nails) = Positive use: used to give affirmation. Negative use: to insinuate a guy is being fruity.

🤰 (Pregnant Woman) = When somebody is so attractive that just seeing them makes you pregnant.

⏳ (Hourglass) = To compliment a woman with an hourglass figure.

❤ (Red Heart) = Used to express love and to soften rejection.

🍑 (Peach) = Butt.

Be Aware Of

🍒 (Cherries) = Boobs, testicles, or virginity.

🍆 (Eggplant) = Male genitalia.

🐱 (Cat) = Female genitalia.

🥵 (Hot Face) = Physical attraction.

💦 (Sweat Droplets) = Can express sexual attraction or refer to sexual fluids.

🌽 (Ear of Corn) = Refers to porn, especially on platforms where the word is banned.

🔫 (Squirt Gun) = Used like a gun emoji (before it was removed), to communicate being upset about something, or someone (ex: “I was on my way to Chick-fil-A but realized it was Sunday 🔫”).

🔪 (Knife) = Similar to a squirt gun, used to add a layer of humor but to show you’re upset about something.

🍃 (Leaf Fluttering in Wind) = This and other green leaf emojis can be used to symbolize marijuana.