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Have you ever misunderstood the meaning of a WhatsApp emoji?
Emoji faux pas can be embarrassing, similar to a hug when a handshake was planned. Maybe your friend came to you with the news of a recent breakup and you responded with the “tears of joy” emoji 😂 even though you really wanted to use the “sobs” 😭 emoji. Unpleasant.
And when it comes to misjudging the meaning of WhatsApp emojis, the stakes are only higher for a business owner or social marketer. For example, if you use the eggplant 🍆 emoji in the wrong place, you could annoy your audience or even lose business.
To be absolutely sure that you are not miscommunicating, you need to be up to date on the meaning of emojis on WhatsApp. Below is everything you need to know about emojis and WhatsApp.
bonus: Here's everything you need to know about Instagram emojis and secret TikTok emojis.
Bonus: Download a free guide to find out which hashtags you can use to drive traffic and engage customers on social media. And then learn how to use Hootsuite to measure results.
WhatsApp emoji translator
Quick tip: Confused about the meaning of WhatsApp emojis but in a hurry? Use Hootsuite's free emoji translator. It explains the meaning of each emoji and how people usually react to them. It's an emoji cheat sheet you'll want to keep in your back pocket!
What are WhatsApp emojis and where can you use them?
Emojis are small picture symbols that convey emotions, expressions and reactions in text messages, social media messages and more.
WhatsApp emojis in particular are app-specific. Although they serve the same purpose, they are slightly different visually than the ones you see in other apps like Instagram and TikTok.
But why are WhatsApp emojis important for business owners and marketers? If you have a more casual tone of voice, want to be personable, or are trying to reach a younger audience, consider incorporating emojis into your WhatsApp marketing plan.
To use WhatsApp emojis, go into a conversation and tap the smiley icon. You can find the entire selection of WhatsApp emojis here; Tap one to select it. To switch back to the keyboard, tap the keyboard icon.
You can use WhatsApp emojis in your daily business communication. Do you have a WhatsApp business account? If not, find out why you should get one and how to sign up.
WhatsApp emojis can add depth and nuance to your business communications, helping you convey emotions, reactions and feelings more effectively. They are particularly valuable if you want to maintain a friendly and approachable tone when interacting with colleagues, clients or clients on the platform.
You can use them in customer support, troubleshooting, or team-to-team communication through the app. You can do this in two ways:
- As a supplement to your text, or
- In response to a message
WhatsApp Emoji Reactions add an emoji to a message to communicate a mood.
How to use WhatsApp emoji reactions?
When someone sends you a message, you can reply directly to the message with an emoji. Here is the step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Press and hold on the text field you want to reply to.
Some popular emoji reactions are shown.
Step 2. Choose one of the suggested emojis.
Or you can click Plus symbol for the library of WhatsApp emojis.
Step 3. Click on the emoji you want to use.
Of course, each emoji has its own meaning. Below we will go into more detail about the meaning of WhatsApp emojis.
Step 4. When you're happy with your selection, you're done!
If you want to change your emoji, press and hold to bring up a new field.
Step 5. Click “Tap to Remove” to clear your selection.
On this screen you will also see who reacted to the message with which emoji.
Step 6. Repeat steps 1-3 above to select a new emoji.
Keep this in mind: You can only respond with one emoji per message, but you can change that emoji as many times as you want. Reactions to deleted or disappearing messages are removed along with the message.
bonus: Take a look at Discord and Snapchat specific emoji meanings.
Popular WhatsApp emojis and what they mean
Curious what the 🥰 means in WhatsApp? Or what the combination 🥺 👉 👈 means? We are here to help. Here are some of the most popular emojis on WhatsApp and the context in which they appear.
Psst: A complete list of emoji meanings can be found here.
List of individual WhatsApp symbols and their meanings
| Emoji | WhatsApp Emoji Meaning |
|---|---|
| ✨ Sparkles | The glitter emoji, sometimes called the star emoji, is used as a form of “emphasis.” It is used equally to denote positive emphasis such as love, excitement or novelty, but also to denote a sarcastic or mocking tone.
For example, you could say, “My boss gave me more work for the same amount of money ✨blessed✨.” |
| 🥰 Smiling face with hearts | The smiling face with heart emoji expresses an outpouring of affection. Use this emoji when you want to show gratitude and love. |
| 🥺 Pleading | The pleading emoji essentially refers to the puppy dog eyes that are lightheartedly begging or wanting something very badly. |
| If you don't wear glasses, the holding back tears emoji looks very similar to the pleading emoji. These emojis can be used to express similar feelings.
But the “holding back tears” emoji can convey a range of emotions, including a pained smile or someone putting on a brave face while upset. It can also express the feeling of experiencing something overwhelmingly sweet or joyful. |
|
| ❤️ Red heart | The red heart emoji is the universal signal for love, thanks and gratitude. Despite its lovey appearance, this emoji can be either platonic or romantic. Companies often use it in more informal settings, such as captions on social media. |
| 🔥 Fire | The fire or flame emoji is used to indicate when something is “burning” or burning. In colloquial terms, this expresses approval, celebration or excitement. |
| 🤌 Finger wallet | The finger money or pinched finger emoji is used to express the Italian hand gesture of the same type and was (partly) invented by Adriano Farano, an Italian media entrepreneur. In Italy it expresses disagreement, frustration or disbelief and often means “What do you want?” or “What are you saying?”
But here's where things get interesting. Emojis can be used anywhere in the world and therefore the meaning of 🤌 changes depending on the local environment you use it in. This little guy means something different in Israel, India, Nigeria and beyond. |
| ☺️ | The meaning of the WhatsApp smiley is simply to express positive affirmation. The meaning of this emoji is pretty broad. You can't go wrong using them in most situations as long as they are positive or neutral. |
List of WhatsApp emojis in combinations and their meanings
| Emoji combination | WhatsApp Emoji Meaning |
|---|---|
| 🥺 👉 👈 | Shy. This emoji combination should be used if you are a bit shy. It can be sent with an emotionally risky text message. |
| 🏃♀️💨 | Must go or be on my way! This emoji combination basically means you're going somewhere quickly. |
| 🤔🤚 | This combination means “wait” or “wait a minute”. You can use it when you have been sent a confusing, shocking or strange message. |
| 😎🤏😳🕶🤏 | What did I just see? Use this combination when you have been sent something shocking, disturbing, or surprising. |
| ☝️🤓 | On it! When you're asked to do something, especially something that requires mental work, use this combination to say you've done it. |
| 👁👄👁 | It is what it is. This emoji combination is used to show a blank stare or the usual thought-terminating cliché: It is what it is. |
| 🍆 💦 👄 or 🍑 👅💦 | These emoji combinations are NSFW. So if you run a business, it's best to avoid these. |
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Create your very own Auto Publish News/Blog Site and Earn Passive Income in Just 4 Easy Steps
