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 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 irers 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 s 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 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.