Beware of double meaning emoticons: use them with caution…

Emoji have gradually integrated written language, be it in our conversations with friends or in the professional world. These little illustrations that can be found in instant messaging programs (WhatsApp, Messenger, Telegram…), collaboration programs (Teams, Slack, etc.), email services (Gmail, Outlook, etc.) .) or on keyboards, mobile devices make it easier to convey our emotions or ideas when sending text messages. So, it’s not uncommon for us to add a crying-laughing emoji to indicate that we found a funny joke, that we’re giving a thumbs up to show our approval, or that we’re simply adding a smiling emoji to show our affection. . Ultimately, a message sent without emoji can come across as cold or even unpleasant in certain contexts! Result: today there are hundreds of them! But while some of them have a fairly obvious meaning, others may hide a double meaning that you should be aware of. So be careful before you send those emojis to your boss!

Beware of naughty emoticons!

Many emojis have been misused to express sexual thoughts and remarks. Specifically, they are used to send sexts, a term that refers to the exchange of inappropriate content via SMS. But, when used even in the most banal conversations, they can create a certain discomfort, or even misunderstanding! This is a case of a face with a slight smirk that should be used with great care. In fact, it has strong connotations and is often associated with flirting or hints at adult consent.

Also be careful with the eggplant emoji, which almost never refers to the vegetable, but rather to the male reproductive system… Similarly, the peach emoji can refer to round buttocks. If you want to take a bite of it, maybe it’s not a coincidence… As for banana and cherry, don’t draw a picture. Women are also eligible for this type of emoji, especially the taco and donut ones, but they are used less frequently.

For his part, the red-hot man is often used to express excitement that has nothing to do with the approach of Christmas. Likewise, the flame emoji allows you to tell someone that they turn you on—in short, that they turn you on.

The art of sarcasm and irony

But emojis not only have sexual double meanings, they can also convey sarcasm or irony, especially among younger generations. Result: There can be a kind of generational shock in discussions, which can lead to misunderstandings or even tension. Take, for example, the smiley emoji. At first glance, we might reasonably think that this is about sending a positive and friendly message, about expressing a sign of kindness. However, it can also be used ironically or sarcastically to show the absurdity of a situation or to express contempt. The same goes for the thumbs up. If it is often a sign of approval, something like “OK” or “Top”, “Great”, it can also express disinterest, such as “Because you’re always interested” or “OK, boomer”, in a more contemptuous and meaningful way. less sympathetic…

A crying emoji doesn’t necessarily mean you’re sad. On the contrary, the youngest use it to express an extremely funny situation that literally makes them cry with laughter. Finally, we find the skull emoji, which has no less than three different meanings: death, obviously, but also if you are dying of laughter after a funny situation, or to demonstrate that the situation is absurd. This is a whole language full of subtleties.

Sources: editors and Internet.