The Complete Guide to Emojis: Their History and Meanings

The Complete Guide to Emojis: Their History and Meanings

Emojis are small digital images or icons that are used to express emotions, ideas, or concepts in digital communication. They have become increasingly popular in recent years and are now a common feature of text messaging, social media, and other forms of online communication.

Which emoji means which? What are the meanings of emojis?

In today's digital age, emojis have become an integral part of our online communication. From text messages and social media posts to emails and blog articles, emojis are used to express emotions, convey thoughts, and add some fun to our conversations. But what exactly are emojis, and where did they come from? In this guide, we'll take a deep dive into the history and meanings of emojis, so you can use them like a pro.

What are emojis? 🤔

Emojis are graphical representations of emotions, objects, and concepts that are used in digital communication. They were first created in Japan in the late 1990s, and have since become a global phenomenon. Emojis are designed to add meaning and emotion to messages that would otherwise be difficult to convey through text alone. They can be used to express a range of emotions, from happiness and sadness to anger and frustration.

History of emojis 🕰️

The first emojis were created by a Japanese artist named Shigetaka Kurita in the late 1990s. He was working for a mobile phone operator at the time and was tasked with creating a set of icons that could be used to represent different emotions and objects in text messages. Kurita drew inspiration from Japanese comics, or manga, as well as from everyday life. The first set of emojis consisted of just 176 icons, and included smiley faces, hearts, and various other objects.

Over time, emojis became increasingly popular in Japan, and in the early 2000s, they began to spread to other parts of the world. The Unicode Consortium, a non-profit organization that oversees the standardization of text characters, began to include emojis in their character sets in 2010, which led to their widespread adoption on smartphones and other digital devices.

Which emoji means which? What are the meanings of emojis? 😃

With thousands of emojis available, it can be difficult to know which one to use in a given situation. Here are some of the most commonly used emojis and their meanings:

😃 Smiling Face with Open Mouth Emoji

Indicates happiness, joy, or excitement. The Smiling Face with Open Mouth Emoji is a popular emoji used to convey a wide range of emotions, including happiness, excitement, surprise, and joy. It features a yellow face with a big smile and two open eyes. The open mouth adds to the expression of excitement and happiness, making it a great choice for expressing positive emotions. It is commonly used in casual conversations with friends and family, as well as in professional settings to add a friendly and approachable tone to messages. Overall, the Smiling Face with Open Mouth Emoji is a versatile and widely used emoji that can help to convey a variety of emotions in a quick and easy way.


🤔 Thinking Face Emoji

Indicates confusion, skepticism, or deep thought. The Thinking Face Emoji is a popular emoji used to convey deep thought or contemplation. It features a yellow face with a raised eyebrow and a hand placed on the chin, suggesting a person deep in thought. The emoji is often used to indicate that someone is pondering a question or considering a problem. It is also commonly used to express curiosity, skepticism, or uncertainty. The Thinking Face Emoji is versatile and can be used in a variety of contexts, from serious discussions to playful banter. It is a useful tool for expressing complex emotions in a quick and easy way, making it a favorite among emoji users.

❤️ Red Heart Emoji

Indicates love, affection, or deep friendship. The ❤️ Red Heart Emoji is one of the most popular emojis used across different platforms. It features a simple, red heart shape that is often used to express love, affection, and other positive emotions. This emoji is frequently used in romantic contexts, such as in messages to significant others, but it can also be used to express appreciation, gratitude, and support for friends, family, and other loved ones. In some cases, the Red Heart Emoji may also be used as a symbol of friendship, solidarity, or unity. Its popularity has made it a ubiquitous symbol of love and caring in the digital age.

🤣 Rolling on the Floor Laughing Emoji

Indicates extreme laughter or amusement. 

The Rolling on the Floor Laughing Emoji, also known as the ROFL Emoji or Face with Tears of Joy Emoji, is a popular way to express intense laughter and amusement. This Emoji is often used to indicate something is extremely funny and can also be used to indicate that the sender is laughing uncontrollably.

The Emoji features a face with closed eyes, a wide-open laughing mouth, and tears streaming down the cheeks. The Emoji's name accurately describes the image, as it appears as if the person depicted is rolling on the floor in hysterical laughter.

The Rolling on the Floor Laughing Emoji is commonly used in social media, text messaging, and other forms of digital communication. It is considered to be one of the most frequently used Emojis and is an excellent way to convey lightheartedness and joy in online conversations.

💔 Broken Heart Emoji

Indicates heartbreak or sadness. The broken heart emoji is a popular way to convey feelings of heartbreak, sadness, and disappointment in a relationship. It features a red, heart-shaped icon that appears to be cracked or broken in two, often accompanied by teardrop emojis or other symbols of sadness. The broken heart emoji can be used to express a range of emotions related to failed relationships, unrequited love, or the pain of separation. It is commonly used in text messages, social media posts, and other digital communications, and is often paired with other heart emojis to express a more complex range of emotions.

🤗 Hugging Face Emoji

Indicates warmth, comfort, or support. The Hugging Face emoji, 🤗, depicts a yellow face with rosy cheeks, closed eyes, and a wide, open smile with two hands reaching out and embracing the face in a hug. The emoji is often used to express warmth, affection, and happiness towards someone or something. It can also be used to convey a feeling of comfort, support, or congratulations. The Hugging Face emoji was added to Unicode 8.0 in 2015 and has since become a popular way to show appreciation, love, and kindness in digital communication.

😎 Smiling Face with Sunglasses Emoji

Indicates coolness, confidence, or relaxation. The Smiling Face with Sunglasses Emoji 🕶️ is a fun and cool way to express a sense of style, confidence, and fun-loving personality. This emoji features a classic pair of sunglasses with black lenses and a black frame. The smiley face has a slight smirk and is usually seen with the sunglasses tilted down, giving off a playful and mischievous vibe.

This emoji is commonly used in social media and text messages to convey a carefree and laid-back attitude, as well as to show off a sense of fashion and coolness. It can also be used to express feeling cool, confident, or just having a good time. For example, if someone is going on a vacation, they may use this emoji to show how excited they are for the trip and to show off their sense of style. Overall, the Smiling Face with Sunglasses Emoji is a popular choice for anyone who wants to add a touch of coolness to their messages or social media posts.

🥺 Pleading Face Emoji

This emoji is used to show a pleading or begging expression, often used when someone is asking for forgiveness or trying to get their way. The Pleading Face emoji is an expressive yellow face with wide eyes and a down-turned, open mouth, with raised eyebrows giving off a pleading or begging look. This emoji is commonly used to show someone pleading, begging or hoping for something, or to express extreme sadness or disappointment. It can also be used humorously or ironically to show a situation where someone is begging for something trivial or unimportant. The Pleading Face emoji is often used in online conversations, social media posts, and text messages.

🥰 Smiling Face with Hearts Emoji

This emoji is used to express deep love or affection for someone or something, often used to show appreciation or admiration. 😊💕 The Smiling Face with Hearts Emoji depicts a yellow face with a broad, closed smile and several heart-shaped pink or red markings floating around its head. This emoji is commonly used to express joy, love, affection, and admiration towards someone or something.

🤩 Star-Struck Emoji

This emoji is used to express excitement or admiration for someone or something, often used to show enthusiasm or adoration. The Star-Struck Emoji is represented by a face with starry eyes, an open mouth, and two small stars on its cheeks. This emoji is often used to show excitement, admiration, or amazement towards a person or an object. It can also indicate being starstruck, such as meeting a celebrity or experiencing something incredible. The starry eyes and open mouth show a sense of wonder and awe, while the stars on the cheeks represent a feeling of excitement and dazzle. The Star-Struck Emoji is frequently used in social media, messaging apps, and other digital platforms to express intense admiration or excitement.

🤔 Thinking Face Emoji

This emoji is used to show a questioning or curious expression, often used to express confusion or contemplation. The thinking face emoji 🤔 is a yellow face with a hand on the chin and a pondering expression. It is commonly used to represent thinking, analyzing, or contemplating a situation, decision, or idea. The raised eyebrow and the hand on the chin are key elements that convey the expression of deep thought or confusion. It can also be used humorously to represent overthinking or a state of confusion. This emoji was approved as part of Unicode 8.0 in 2015 and has since become a popular way to express thoughtfulness in text messages, social media posts, and other forms of digital communication.

🤯 Exploding Head Emoji

This emoji is used to show extreme shock or surprise, often used to express disbelief or amazement. The Exploding Head emoji 💥 is a fun and expressive way to show shock, amazement, or even disbelief. This emoji is represented by an exploding head with an open mouth and closed eyes, with lines radiating outwards to represent the force of the explosion. It can be used in various situations, such as seeing something unbelievable or hearing unexpected news.

The Exploding Head emoji is often used in a humorous way to indicate a mind blown moment. For example, if someone tells you something that you find really surprising, you might respond with this emoji to show that you're completely blown away by what you just heard.

🤢 Nauseated Face Emoji

This emoji is used to show a sick or queasy expression, often used to express disgust or dislike for something. The Nauseated Face emoji depicts a face with a greenish tone and a disgusted expression, with one eye closed and the other eye looking to the side. It is often used to express feelings of illness, disgust, or discomfort. It can also be used humorously to express a situation or person that is so unpleasant it makes you feel sick. The emoji is commonly represented with the 🤢 code point on most platforms.

🥳 Partying Face Emoji

This emoji is used to express celebration or excitement, often used to show happiness or joy for a special occasion. The Partying Face emoji 🥳 depicts a smiling face with party hats and confetti, expressing the joy and excitement of celebration. The emoji is often used to convey a sense of fun and excitement for various occasions, such as birthdays, graduations, or other festive events. It can also be used in a sarcastic manner to mock or express a lack of enthusiasm for a particular event or situation.

The Partying Face emoji was added to Unicode 11.0 in 2018 and is commonly used on social media platforms, messaging apps, and in other forms of digital communication. It is often paired with other emojis, such as the 🎉 Party Popper or 🎂 Birthday Cake, to further convey the celebratory mood.

🤫 Shushing Face Emoji

This emoji is used to show a secretive or hushed expression, often used to ask someone to be quiet or keep a secret.  The 🤫 Shushing Face emoji depicts a face with a finger pressed to its lips, as if to indicate that the person should be quiet or keep a secret. It is commonly used to convey the idea of being secretive, silent, or to urge someone to be quiet.

The shushing gesture can be traced back to ancient Greece, where the god Harpocrates was often depicted with his finger to his lips, symbolizing secrecy and silence. The gesture has since become a widely recognized symbol for keeping quiet and being discreet.

In the digital age, the Shushing Face emoji was added to the Unicode Standard in 2016 as part of Emoji 4.0. It is available in a range of skin tones and can be used in various contexts, such as when someone is revealing confidential information or when a person wants someone to stop talking.

Overall, the 🤫 Shushing Face emoji is a useful tool for conveying the idea of being quiet or keeping secrets in a lighthearted and playful way.

🥱 Yawning Face Emoji

This emoji is used to show a tired or bored expression, often used to express fatigue or lack of interest. The Yawning Face Emoji is represented by a yellow face with its eyes closed, a wide-open mouth, and a hand covering its mouth, indicating that it is yawning. It was added to Unicode 12.0 in 2019.

The Yawning Face Emoji is often used to express tiredness, boredom, or lack of interest. It can also be used to indicate that someone is bored or not enjoying a particular activity. Additionally, it can be used in situations where someone is not interested in a conversation or is simply too tired to engage.

The Yawning Face Emoji is a versatile emoji that can be used in a variety of situations to convey different emotions and feelings.

🤥 Lying Face Emoji

This emoji is used to show a deceitful or dishonest expression, often used to call out someone for lying or being untruthful. The Lying Face Emoji 🤥 depicts a nose that's growing, much like Pinocchio's, indicating that the person is lying. The crossed fingers over the mouth emoji adds to the effect, as it is often used to indicate lying or hope for luck. The emoji is commonly used when someone is trying to deceive or lie to someone else.

The Lying Face Emoji was approved as part of Unicode 9.0 in 2016 and was added to Emoji 3.0 in the same year. It is available in a range of skin tones, making it more inclusive.

Some common use cases for the Lying Face Emoji include when someone is caught in a lie or trying to deceive others. It can also be used humorously, such as in response to a friend's outrageous story or as a playful way to tease someone.

🤪 Zany Face Emoji

This emoji is used to show a silly or crazy expression, often used to express humor or excitement. The Zany Face Emoji is a whimsical and silly-looking face with a comical expression. It features a wide-open mouth with a tongue sticking out and one eye open and one eye closed, giving it a playful and lighthearted vibe. The emoji is commonly used to express a sense of fun, excitement, and humor, often in a childlike or goofy manner. It can also be used to indicate that someone is feeling a bit wild or crazy in the moment. The Zany Face Emoji was first introduced in 2017 as part of the Unicode 10.0 update.

🤠 Cowboy Hat Face Emoji

This emoji is used to show a cowboy or cowgirl hat, often used to express a Western theme or lifestyle. The Cowboy Hat Face emoji 🤠 depicts a face wearing a classic cowboy hat. It was added to the Unicode Standard in 2016 and has since become popular for representing the Wild West, rodeos, and country music.

The emoji features a face with a wide grin, a mustache, and a classic cowboy hat, often featuring a curved brim. It can be used to convey a sense of adventure, excitement, or just plain fun.

The Cowboy Hat Face emoji has also become a popular way to show support for country music artists or to express one's love for the genre. It can also be used to express a love for the American West and its traditions.

🤬 Face with Symbols on Mouth Emoji

This emoji is used to show an angry or frustrated expression, often used to express annoyance or disapproval. The Face with Symbols on Mouth Emoji 🤬 depicts a face with various symbols covering the mouth, representing the idea of censoring or swearing. The symbols used on this emoji vary by platform but can include an X, a series of hash marks, or other symbols.

This emoji is often used to show frustration, anger, or irritation, as well as to express swearing or censorship. It can be used humorously or sarcastically, and may be used in situations where one wants to express a strong emotion without actually using profanity.

The Face with Symbols on Mouth Emoji was first introduced in 2018 as part of Unicode 11.0, and was added to Emoji 11.0 later that year.

🥴 Woozy Face Emoji

This emoji is used to show a dizzy or disoriented expression, often used to express drunkenness or illness. The Woozy Face Emoji depicts a yellow face with a crumpled mouth and closed eyes, conveying the feeling of dizziness, nausea, or drunkenness. It has raised eyebrows and a yellow star over the head to indicate a disoriented or dizzy state. It can also be used to represent the feeling of being lightheaded, confused, or overwhelmed.

This emoji was approved as part of Unicode 6.0 in 2010 and was added to Emoji 1.0 in 2015. It is available in various skin tones, including light skin tone, medium-light skin tone, medium skin tone, medium-dark skin tone, and dark skin tone. It can be used in various contexts, including when feeling sick or drunk, when experiencing vertigo or disorientation, or when feeling overwhelmed by a situation.

🤭 Face with Hand Over Mouth Emoji

This emoji is used to show a surprise or shock expression, often used to express embarrassment or to hide a secret. 

The "Face with Hand Over Mouth" emoji is a yellow face with a closed mouth and a hand placed over it. This hand gesture is often used to indicate a feeling of surprise, shock, or embarrassment, as if the person is trying to cover up their reaction.

Emoji: 🤭

This emoji was approved by Unicode 10.0 in 2017 and has since been included in most emoji keyboards. It is often used in texting and social media to express a sense of secrecy or to convey a message in a more subtle way.

The "Face with Hand Over Mouth" emoji is sometimes also referred to as the "Face with Peek-a-Boo Hand" or the "Face with Whispering Hand."

🥵 Hot Face Emoji

This emoji is used to show a hot or overheated expression, often used to express discomfort or sweating. The "Hot Face" emoji shows a red, flushed face with a slight smile, with steam rising from the top of the head. It can represent a range of emotions, such as feeling hot, embarrassed, or in love. This emoji is also commonly used to convey feelings of attraction or desire towards someone.

The "Hot Face" emoji was added to the Unicode Standard in 2010 and has since become a popular choice on social media and messaging platforms. Its design may vary slightly depending on the platform, but the overall appearance is consistent across most platforms.

In terms of usage, the "Hot Face" emoji can be used to convey a variety of meanings. It can be used to express physical warmth or discomfort, such as feeling hot due to high temperatures or fever. It can also be used to express emotions such as embarrassment, shame, or blushing. Additionally, the emoji is often used to express attraction or romantic interest towards someone, with the steam rising from the head symbolizing an intense feeling of desire.

🥶 Cold Face Emoji

This emoji is used to show a cold or freezing expression, often used to express discomfort or shivering. 

The Cold Face Emoji 🥶 depicts a face with blue lips and a furrowed brow, indicating that the person is feeling very cold. It is commonly used in conversations related to cold weather, freezing temperatures, and winter activities.

This emoji was approved as part of Unicode 11.0 in 2018 and belongs to the "Smileys & People" category. It can be used on various platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

🤒 Face with Thermometer Emoji: This emoji is used to show a sick or feverish expression, often used to express illness or a need for rest.

😭 Loudly Crying Face Emoji

🥺 Pleading Face Emoji

✨ Sparkles Emoji

🙏 Folded Hands Emoji

👏 Clapping Hands Emoji

👍 Thumbs Up Emoji

These are just a few examples of the many meanings that emojis can convey. It's important to remember that the meanings of emojis can vary depending on the context in which they are used, as well as the cultural background of the person using them.

Emojis have become a ubiquitous part of our online communication, adding depth and emotion to our messages in ways that words alone cannot. Understanding the history and meanings of emojis can help you to use them effectively and express yourself more fully in your digital interactions. So go ahead, add some personality to your messages with your favorite emojis!