How can respond properly when you don't know what his emojis really mean? Emojis can be your best friend or your worst enemy. They are a great way to express your emotions through text, but can also be pretty confusing when you're on the receiving end of them. You might be comfortable sending and receiving emojis to your friends and family, but once your crush enters the equation everything changes! If your heart beats faster every time a guy texts because you don't know what his emojis really mean, you're not alone! Modern day relationships can be complicated, and it's easy to get lost along the way. Here is a roadmap from thetalko.com to help you navigate the confusing world of emojis!
1 The Side Smirk
I hate to break it to ya, but the side smirk is one emoji you should never be excited to receive. If you scroll through your inbox, you may notice that the side smirk only comes from a certain type of guy. They’ve recently been defined as “f-boys,” but we think that term is a little too harsh. Instead, we’ll just call them losers. These guys are most likely texting a dozen girls at the same time. They love to play the field, they love to flirt, and if you think you can tame this guy and make him change his ways, you’ll be fighting an uphill battle. The side smirk is usually sent after a guy types a really corny pickup line. You know, those cheesy, over-rehearsed messages like, “Are you Cinderella? Cause’ I see that dress coming off at midnight! :insert side smirk emoji:” Just go ahead and delete him from your contacts.
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They’re the ones who never seem to take anything seriously, always tossing out lazy compliments and lame innuendos. The side smirk is their go-to because it’s sneaky and evasive - just like them. If they send you this emoji, it’s their way of saying, “I’m trying to be charming, but I really don’t care.” It's a signal that, deep down, they’re emotionally unavailable and probably more interested in the chase than the actual connection. Instead of getting stuck in their web of casual texts and empty promises, recognize the red flag and move on to someone more genuine and worthy of your time.
We all suffer from insecurities, and the guy you have your eye on probably has a bunch of them that he’s dealing with, too. Some of us are able to hide these feelings of self-doubt like a pro, especially when it comes to dealing with someone we’re really interested in. In the dating world, playing it cool is always the way to go when you’re trying to impress someone. That’s why this emoji is a favorite with the fellas. We like to call this the “too cool emoji.” It’s essentially a smiley face wearing a pair of stunna shades. A guy will send you this emoji when he wants you to think he’s being cool, calm and collected. But on the inside, he’s totally freaking out! He’s probably not sure if you really like him, so throw him a bone and let him know you’re into him just as much as he’s into you!
3 Tongue out
The tongue out emoji is a tricky one. When a guy sends you this emoji, it can mean many things. One thing’s for certain, he definitely likes you, but he’s testing your boundaries to see how far he can go and what you’ll let him get away with. You’ll notice that a guy will use this emoji after texting something that’s a little too aggressive or flirtatious. He may be trying to gauge how physical he can get with you as soon as possible, or he could be trying to open the door to some raunchy sexting. The tongue out emoji is his way of saying, “If you get offended, I can always pretend it was just a joke.” So tread lightly when this emoji pops up at the end of a message. The way you respond can really determine the way he treats you and your relationship moving forward.
4 Wink
Aww, the wink! Don’t you just love it when you receive this cute emoji? If it’s coming from a guy you’re not interested in, it can come across a bit skeevy. But when the guy you really really like sends it to you, it can make your heart do backflips inside your chest! Guys are quick to use this emoji because it has so many different meanings. It can fit into almost any kind of message, too. Most of the time, the wink is a fun and innocent way for a guy to get his flirt on. He wants to get his point across, but he’s definitely not trying to turn you off. The wink is his way of telling you that he’s strong and confident, and he stands behind every single word that he types. If you like him as much as he likes you, don’t forget to send him a few winks right back!
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Aww, the wink! Don’t you just love it when you receive this cute emoji? If it’s coming from a guy you’re not interested in, it can come across a bit skeevy. But when the guy you really really like sends it to you, it can make your heart do backflips inside your chest! Guys are quick to use this emoji because it has so many different meanings. It can fit into almost any kind of message, too. Most of the time, the wink is a fun and innocent way for a guy to get his flirt on. He wants to get his point across, but he’s definitely not trying to turn you off. The wink is his way of telling you that he’s strong and confident, and he stands behind every single word that he types. If you like him as much as he likes you, don’t forget to send him a few winks right back!
Sometimes, the wink can be a playful challenge, daring you to respond with the same enthusiasm. It’s his subtle way of saying he’s enjoying your conversation and wants to keep the excitement going. Remember: the context of the wink matters just as much as the emoji itself. He might mix it in with jokes to keep things lighthearted or
5 Flames
Girl, you’re on fire! Stop, drop and roll! I kid, I kid. This emoji definitely doesn’t mean your new hair extensions have gone up in flames. Instead, most guys reserve this emoji for only the hottest of the hottest girls. I’m talking about the girls who receive 1,000+ likes on every single one of their Instagram selfies. If you’ve received some flame emojis in your inbox, go ahead and give yourself a pat on the back. If you’re not setting the Internet on fire with your good looks, it’s pretty evident that you’re one hot mamacita in your guy’s eyes at least! The flame emoji should always be taken as a compliment. It means you’re smokin’, and he wants to see more! Sending him additional selfies through text message or Snapchat will probably result in him sending you even more flames in return. So go ahead and light his world on fire!
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When your phone screen lights up with those fiery little icons, it's a digital nod to your undeniable allure. What's not to love? Getting such a sizzling endorsement from a guy can feel like you've just won the social media lottery. It's his way of shouting from the digital rooftops that you've captivated his attention. But beyond mere aesthetics, that flickering flame can also signify that he's felt a spark—maybe even kindling the beginnings of something more. So while your selfie game is certainly strong, the heat might just be warming up to something even hotter. Keep the flames burning!
6 See No Evil
This emoji is probably one of the most annoying of the bunch. We’ve all received it, and I’m pretty sure we’ve all sent it out a few times, too. This is yet another emoji a guy uses when he’s not sure of himself. He’s tiptoeing around a fine line between wanting to go all in and trying not to ruffle your feathers. When you communicate through text and online messages, words can be misconstrued, misunderstandings are common, and you never know how the person on the receiving end will interpret what you’re trying to say. That’s where this emoji comes into play. Ending a message with the see no evil monkey face is his way of saying, “I know I probably shouldn’t have typed that. But I sent it anyway. Please go easy on me if I’ve ticked you off.” I would definitely cut him some slack if the guy has good intentions, but that’s something you’ll have to determine on your own.
7 The Devilish Grin
Naughty, naughty, naughty! This devilish grin is nothing but a bunch of bad news…in a good way, of course. A guy who’s confident and sure himself will toss out this emoji every chance he gets. It means he’s on his worse behavior, and you will deal with it! This is a guy who knows exactly what he wants, and he’s not going to stop until he gets it. The beauty in this emoji is it doesn’t require any words to go along with it. He could send you four devilish grins in a row in response to your latest Snapchat selfie, and you already know what’s on his mind. He likes what he sees, and he’s not about to play the “I’m a sweet and innocent guy” game with you. He’s most likely bad news, but he’s probably one hell of a good time. If you’re not looking for anything serious, he’s the guy for you. But if you’re trying to ride off into the sunset, well, it probably won’t be happening with this guy. Like, at all.
8 The Heart Kiss
Not to be confused with the regular kiss. The heart kiss is a bit more intimate, but equal parts non-commital. Does that make sense? Probably not, but try to follow along as we explain things. There are so many emojis that are used to express love or deep attraction, and the heart kiss is one of them. It’s the steamier version of the regular kiss, and it used at any stage of your relationship. If a guy you just met sends you a heart kiss along with a message saying, “It was nice to meet you!” Don’t look too much into it. It doesn’t mean he thinks you’re “The One,” it doesn’t mean he wants to make out with you the next time the two of you meet up, and it definitely doesn’t mean he’s looking for a serious relationship. It’s simply a gesture that’s used to show some virtual affection.
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So, let's break it down. The heart kiss emoji, 😘, is flirty but flexible. Think of it as a virtual air kiss with a twist—a way to sprinkle some extra sweetness into the conversation. It's the emoji equivalent of that playful wink across the room; it's telling, but not too telling. Sure, it's a step up from the classic 😗, but don't jump to conclusions. It's like he's dipping his toe in the "more than friends" pool without diving in. Use it back with caution—it's all about keeping things light and breezy for now.
9 Heart
If your guy sends you a heart emoji, you’ve just hit the dating jackpot! There are some emoticons that are reserved for very special people in a guy’s life, and the heart symbol is one of them. Since the heart is commonly related to “love,” a guy isn’t going to send you this emoji if he doesn’t already have some very strong feelings for you. Sending a heart emoji to a friend or a family member is easy for a guy to do. In fact, they probably don’t think twice about sending three hearts in a row to their mom. But for a guy to muster up enough courage to send the heart to a girl he’s really falling for is a completely different ballgame. If he hasn’t said the L-word just yet, but he’s constantly sending you heart emojis, just know that his feelings for you are deeper than you could ever imagine.
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When you receive a heart emoji, it's like getting a digital love letter. It may seem small, but in the digital age, it’s a grand gesture. Keep an eye out for the color of the heart as well. While the classic red heart is the epitome of passion and romance, other colors like pink can express gentleness and admiration, and a purple heart might signify a budding romance laced with understanding. So, the next time your phone buzzes with that little heart popping up on the screen, remember it's his way of whispering sweet nothings into your virtual ear.
10 The Angel
Don’t be fooled by the angel face. You’re probably hoping it means all things sweet and innocent, but it’s actually the complete opposite. This emoji might as well look like the devilish grin emoji because they mean the exact same thing. The angel face is his way of being naughty and a bit sneaky. He’s essentially trying to hide his true intentions by sending an emoji that’s normally associated with all things angelic. If a guy sends you this emoji, just know that he’s not trying to take the slow route with you. He wants to move as fast as humanly possible. But we all know by now that when a guy moves fast, he leaves you in the dust just as quickly. So the next time he sends you the angel, pump the brakes by changing the subject or leaving him on “read” for a few hours as a form of digital punishment.
11 Blushing
If you’ve had a string of failed relationships that ended in disaster, just know there are still so many good guys out there in the world. And surprisingly, these good guys are hiding behind the blushing emoji. You know the type of men that are the lead roles in those cheesy romantic comedies? Those are the types of guys who send this emoji in all of their communications. They’re adorable, easily embarrassed, and they’re always on their best behavior. This is the type of guy you bring home to your parents. You know he’s always going to be respectful and kind to everyone in your life. If you shower him with compliments, he’ll reply with the blushing emoji. But to him, it’s not just a symbol. He truly is blushing IRL! Make sure to hold on to this guy tight. He’s the kind of boyfriend most girls dream of having in their lives!
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The blushing emoji is a sign of a good guy who is shy but also respectful. He is the type of guy who is the lead role in romantic comedies, and he is the type of guy you bring home to your parents. He is always on his best behavior and will blush in real life when you shower him with compliments. He is the kind of boyfriend that most girls dream of having, and he is worth holding on to. He will always be kind and respectful to everyone in your life, and you can trust him to be honest and true. He is the perfect partner for any girl looking for a meaningful relationship.
12 The Tongue
When you were a kid, someone sticking their tongue out at you was an insult. The culprit would either end up in detention or grounded by their parents for the rest of the week. But in this new age of non-verbal communication, the tongue emoji has the opposite meaning. Of course, this emoji can be used to talk about food. But since we’re talking about dating and relationships here, we’re going to tell you what this really means when it’s not in the context of him expressing his desire to hit up the Taco Bell drive-thru. If you see the tongue emoji in your inbox, you may have a problem on your hands. If you like the guy, then you can accept the tongue as his playful way of saying he’s down for some intimacy. But if the tongue comes from a guy you’re not even interested in, your best bet is to not even respond. All he wants to do is shove his tongue down your throat. Ew, grosssss!
13 The Trophy
If you are still trying to figure out if the guy you are dating really likes you are not, this emoji should answer all of your questions. The trophy emoji isn’t dished out regularly like some of the other emoticons on our list. But when you see it in a message from your crush or the guy you are really interested in, it means a lot of things. Clearly, the trophy is a prize, and you’re a prize in his eyes. When he sends you the trophy, he wants you to know that you have earned the top spot in his heart. So what do you win exactly? His love, affection, attention, and admiration, of course! This is an emoji he’s not sending out all willy nilly to every girl on his contact list, so when you receive it, just know that you are probably someone really special in his life!
14 Extremely Happy Face
If you’re familiar with your phone’s emoticon list, you’ve probably noticed there are multiple happy faces. There’s the regular happy face, and then there’s the extremely happy face. If your guy has sent you the smiley with the huge grin on its face, it can mean many things.
Most guys try their hardest to be really manly in front of the girl they’re crushing on. They don’t want to come across as “weak” so they typically stay away from all of the “girly” emojis. The extremely happy face is one that guys don’t use very often because it’s a little “too happy” for their liking. Most guys avoid this emoji because they think it will turn a girl off. But if the guy you’re interested in uses this happy-go-lucky emoji, it means he’s enjoying the conversation, and he’s not afraid to show it! He’s most likely a very positive person, he can find humor in almost any situation, and if you’re having a bad day, he’ll know just what to say to make you smile just as big as this emoji!
15 Heart Eyes
The heart eyes is a very cute and adorable way for a guy to show you that he’s into you. But it’s a secret emoji that guys use in the dating world. Why is it such a secret? Because a guy would never admit to his friends that he has ever sent a heart eyes emoji in his entire life. But most guys are very quick to secretly send this emoji out to each and every girl they meet. Whether a guy is flirting with you or just being cordial, he will use this emoticon to show his approval for anything you’ve just said or done. It doesn’t mean he really likes you, and it definitely doesn’t mean you should start planning out your entire outfit just in case he asks you out on a date. The heart eyes used to be reserved for when a guy was either in love or looking to take the relationship to the next level. But these days, it’s as common as him sending out a smiley face. However, if he sends you more than four heart eyes in a row, it’s pretty clear that you’re someone special in his life.
