Do you have a smartphone? If you do, then you also have a repository of nearly four thousand emojis at your fingertips. But what do they mean? And when should you use them? Even the most tech-savvy amongst us can get confused from time to time. To make online communication that little bit easier, we’ve found the most common emojis and translated them for you.
What Are Emojis?
Most of us are familiar with emojis, even if we don’t have a smartphone. They’ve been used in adverts, on clothing, and there’s even a movie dedicated to them.
In their simplest form, emojis are designed to express emotions that may not be clear in basic writing.
Emojis are not limited to faces. They can represent other things, too, such as weather, animals, or household objects. As well as expressing emotions, therefore, emojis can also be used to represent objects or ideas, which can help to shorten messages without losing any meaning.
The word ’emoji’ has its origins in Japanese. ‘E’ means ‘picture’, and ‘moji’ means ‘character’.
The Most Common Emojis Translated
According to Unicode, the top 100 emojis make up about 82% of all emoji usage. This means most people are using the same symbols on a regular basis, whilst others are barely touched. You won’t find all one hundred of these emojis translated here. Instead, we will look at the top fifteen emojis and what they all mean.
1. Face with Tears of Joy 😂
At first glance, the tears on this emoji might make it look upset. However, you will quickly notice that the character is, in fact, smiling. This is an emoji that, when translated, equates to laughing enough to cause tears. It’s one that can be used whenever someone sends a message that makes you laugh. Other emojis, such as the grinning face with smiling eyes (😄), can imply something similar but may not express the full extent of your amusement.
2. Red Heart ❤
This one might seem obvious, and that’s because usually it is. A big red heart has become a universal symbol for love. However, a red heart emoji can be translated to have a few meanings. The most common use will be a message to a partner to tell them how much they mean to you. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a romantic symbol, though. Close friends may use the red heart for one another too. However, there are some friends who choose to use different coloured heart emojis to reflect their friendships. You could also use it when discussing plans.
3. Rolling on the Floor Laughing 🤣
If the ‘face with tears of joy’ isn’t showing how funny something was, maybe you should upgrade to the ‘rolling on the floor laughing’ emoji. This is used for when something is so funny you can barely concentrate. In some cases, you might not be able to send this emoji until you’ve finished laughing at whatever you’ve found so funny. It’s also a nice message to receive after you send someone else a funny picture or video.
4. Thumbs Up 👍
It’s perhaps somewhat telling that the most popular emojis are easily translated. A ‘thumbs up’ has become a near-universal symbol of approval or agreement, and that meaning remains the same in emoji form. This is the ideal emoji to send when you want to quickly agree to something, though use it sparingly, as the thumbs up could be considered somewhat impersonal.
5. Loudly Crying Face 😭
Unlike the ‘face with tears of joy’ emoji, the tears on this emoji can be translated to mean sadness. This is a very effective way of expressing that you are upset about something. However, emojis also have casual connotations. Therefore, this emoji is best used when discussing a sad film rather than a more serious event.
Furthermore, some people also use this emoji to represent joy. It is a symbol that evokes strong emotions beyond sadness. Fortunately, the context of a message should help to make the emotion clear.
6. Folded Hands 🙏
These emojis can be translated differently depending on context or who is sending them. Some people may think of this emoji as ‘prayer hands’. Therefore, it may be used to represent that someone is praying for you after an emotional event.
However, folded hands can also be used as a symbol of gratitude, which was their original intention. As emojis are largely a Japanese invention, elements of their culture have become prevalent in the symbols. In Japan, a ‘thank you’ is often accompanied by folded hands and a bow. This is what the folded hands can represent.
7. Face Blowing a Kiss 😘
There are a few different kissing emojis on your smartphone. All, naturally, represent signs of affection. However, the ‘face blowing a kiss’ emoji is best used for a significant other. Some people, though, will also use this emoji for family members or friends. Therefore, in some cases, usage of this emoji may depend on how you and your loved ones choose to use it.
8. Smiling Face with Hearts 🥰
This is another emoji with a somewhat straightforward translation. It represents feeling loved. When someone sends this emoji, it will often be after receiving a compliment or possibly a gift. Friends, family, and partners will all send this emoji to each other. It is ideal for expressing your appreciation of the people in your life.
9. Smiling Face with Heart Eyes 😍
The ‘smiling face with heart eyes’ implies that you have seen something you love. As well as being a message that can be sent to a partner, you may also send this emoji if someone shows you their pet or a new dress you think looks very pretty.
10. Smiling Face with Smiling Eyes 😊
Here is one of the emojis that is most easily translated. As you may expect, the ‘smiling face with smiling eyes’ simply means you are happy. It is an emoji that can be placed in many sentences to inform your friend how you are feeling.
Some people choose to use this emoji sparingly. Others might use it at the end of every sentence. Regardless of how frequently your loved ones use it, the meaning will remain the same.
11. Party Popper 🎉
Think about when a party popper is most likely to be used and you’ll likely understand when this emoji is used. It is one of the best emojis that can be translated to mean a celebration or congratulations. This is probably why it’s such a popular emoji.
People are likely to use this emoji after the sharing of good news, or to say, ‘happy birthday’.
12. Beaming Face with Smiling Eyes 😁
When the ‘smiling face with smiling eyes’ emoji doesn’t quite express your happiness or joy enough, you might want to send this instead. There is little to say about this one. It is a popular choice for how it expresses positivity without implying the sender is laughing. This could be a good choice of emoji if you are sharing good news with someone.
13. Two Hearts 💕
Most often, this emoji is sent between partners to express their love for one another. The pair of hearts represents both members of the couple, and how close they are to one another. However, the ‘two hearts’ emoji may also be translated to represent close friends. On the Snapchat messaging app, this emoji is used to represent ‘BFFs’ (best friends forever).
14. Pleading Face 🥺
When you look at this emoji, you might think it looks slightly sad. However, it is actually meant to represent puppy dog eyes. When this emoji is translated, it is meant to convince people to help you with something. Alternatively, some people like using this emoji when they see something cute (such as the dog photo under emoji no. 9).
You are most likely to use this emoji when asking for a favour. For example, if you need a friend or a loved one to help you with some chores.
15. Grinning Face with Sweat 😅
This emoji could be translated in a couple of ways. Commonly, it is used as a sign of relief, showing you are happy after resolving a potentially stressful situation. However, it could also be an emoji you send when you admit to forgetting something or say something you think is a bit awkward. Whilst there are other emojis with these translations, the ‘grinning face with sweat’ is just as effective, likely contributing to its place in the top 15 most common emojis.
Keeping Up with Technology
Nowadays, with more and more services moving online, it’s important to keep up with technology. Some elderly people can struggle with technology though want to keep up. Fortunately, we understand this, so have provided some guides:
- How to Stay Safe Online – Protecting Your Loved One’s Computer
- How to Stay Safe When Shopping Online
- Choosing the Right Apps for Your Elderly Parents
- How to Protect Your Elderly Parents from Scams
- The Best Smartphones and Tablets for the Elderly
Peace of Mind from Careline365
It’s important that our loved ones can stay safe and confident in their own homes. A personal alarm from Careline365 offers reassurance and peace of mind. Purchasing a Careline365 alarm means your loved one will receive 24/7 coverage from our professional Care Team. Assistance is always a button press away.
We offer a range of personal alarm plans to suit your loved one’s needs. Find out more by reading our helpful guide.
For more information, or to order a Careline365 alarm, call our helpful team on 0808 304 4510.