Emojis have become integral to digital communication over messaging apps and social media platforms. Every day, billions use emojis to convey their feelings. And, the emoji options just keep growing. The Unicode Consortium is continually approving and adding new graphics for use on Android, iOS, and other platforms.
The latest publicly available list, referred to as Emoji 15.0, contains several new additions, including a new pink heart and a shaking face. Some of the designs started rolling out at the end of 2022 starting with Google and Samsung devices, while others trickled in over the first few months of 2023 with recent iOS and Android updates. Every emoji has its own meaning, some of which are straightforward and others a bit more ambiguous. Here are the top 12 of 2023 and what they mean.
12 Goose
One of the newest emojis on Android and iOS is that of a Goose. It is an actual representation of the animal from the side and shows it in white color. While some may use the Goose emoji to talk about the animal, it can also be used as part of idioms such as silly goose, which is used to call someone foolish, or wild goose chase, which is used to indicate a hopeless pursuit for something. It may also refer to comically unhinged behavior, as a reference to Untitled Goose Game. The Goose Emoji came to several Android phones in 2022 and iPhones in Feb 2023.
11 Maracas
The Maracas emoji came to Emoji 15.0 in 2022. A maraca is a percussion instrument. Per the emoji's proposal submitted to Unicode, it can "symbolize a celebration or specific cultural holidays," particularly as a reference to Latin American culture. It's meant to convey a feeling of joy and the music that's an integral part of celebration. The Maracas emojis have a slightly different appearance on Android and iOS. While the former shows two Maracas instruments side by side with motion lines (red top), the latter shows static maracas, one over another.
10 Ginger
Yet another new emoji to arrive as part of the latest operating systems is that of a Ginger. Per the emoji's proposal, it could be used as a symbol for seasons like autumn and winter or as a symbol representing the natural spice. The Ginger Emoji may also be used jokingly to refer to a redheaded person.
9 Folding Hand Fan
A hand-held Folding Fan is also among the new emojis recently added to Android and iOS. It appears as a red-colored fan with several folds, pointing upward in Android and toward the left in iOS. People are seen using this emoji in an argument as a symbol of cooling the other person down by using the fan, or using it after a sassy statement. Further, the Folding Fan emoji could also refer to admirers or fans of someone or something.
8 Pea Pod
A green-colored Pea Pod is among the newest emojis to arrive on smartphones. It illustrates a pea pod split open to reveal the peas inside. People use the Pea Pod emoji in a straightforward way, to refer to the vegetable, or as a statement of friendship. It can be used to explain recipes, and to express popular idioms like 'two peas in a pod.' A tiny yet fun detail, which most people miss, is that the Pea Pod emoji has three peas on Android and five on iOS.
7 Donkey
The Donkey emoji shows the animal in full profile, with slightly different characteristics on Android and iOS. People often use the emoji as an insult to someone else's intelligence. It could also refer to the feeling of being overworked. Some might use it in a political context, as the Democratic Party of the United States uses donkeys as their symbol. Of course, it can also just represent the real animal itself, too.
6 Wireless
The Wireless emoji has one of the most straightforward meanings. It is just a wireless network sign enclosed in a rounded square, used to convey the presence of Wi-Fi in a premise. Friends or family often use this emoji to share Wi-Fi passwords over messaging apps like WhatsApp. People could use this emoji with others, such as the cross emoji, to indicate that they don't have access to Wi-Fi or a cellular network, implying that they might not be able to stay online for a long time.
5 Moose
The Moose emoji consists of the animal's head with antlers. Of course, the emoji is used to talk about the actual animal, but it might also reference places with a cool climate where the animal thrives. The emoji could be used as a national symbol in countries like Sweden and Canada. However, in areas with large Moose populations, people could use the emoji to indicate a safety hazard (along with a warning emoji) on highways or certain residential areas.
4 Jellyfish
The Jellyfish emoji represents the marine animal in a bright blue color that appears similar on Android and iOS operating systems. It's used to talk about the marine animal or as a metaphor that compares someone to a jellyfish that stings. In several regions, people eat cuisines prepared with jellyfish, so it may be used in that context as well.
3 Pushing Hands
The latest software updates also bring two Pushings Hands emoji, one that appears to be pushing toward the right and the other toward the left. Since people use the hand gesture to stop someone or to reject something, the emoji means the same. The hands are available in several skin tones.
2 Pink Heart
The Pink Heart is among the most popular emojis of Unicode 15.0. Like the red heart, the pink heart also represents affection and friendship. However, the difference between pink and red hearts, something that many users might not know, is that the former signifies unromantic love. People use it to express warm sentiments toward one another or to praise someone who compliments them. Additionally, Unicode 15.0 also has a light blue and gray heart, which means casual love and the expression of sympathy, respectively.
1 Shaking Face
The Shaking Face is perhaps the best emoji added to smartphones in 2023. It appears a tad different on Android and iOS, but it's just a blurred shock face emoji with motion lines on its sides. The Shaking Face emoji conveys the feeling of shock, fear, or confusion. People also use it for natural calamities like earthquakes or tsunamis. The emoji could also indicate that someone is experiencing dizziness, a feeling of discomfort, or is ill.