Add some extra personality to your texts with the ๐Ÿ‘‹ (waving) emoji

What does it really mean when someone texts you the ๐Ÿ‘‹ (waving) emoji? Weโ€™re here to explain everything! The ๐Ÿ‘‹ (waving) emoji is also commonly called the hello emoji or the hand wave emoji, and it can be used in several ways across text messages and social media. Weโ€™ve put together a complete guide to the ๐Ÿ‘‹ (waving) emoji, including a thorough overview of its meanings, uses, and tips on how to reply to it.

Things You Should Know

  • The ๐Ÿ‘‹ (waving) emoji generally means โ€œhello,โ€ or โ€œgoodbye," though it can also be a sassy, sarcastic way to say โ€œgo away.โ€
  • Use the ๐Ÿ‘‹ (waving) emoji to begin or end texting conversations with people in a friendly way.
  • Alternatively, use the ๐Ÿ‘‹ (waving) emoji to snarkily end a conversation (or an entire relationship) with someone who is bothering you.
Section 1 of 4:

What does the ๐Ÿ‘‹ (waving) emoji mean?

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    The ๐Ÿ‘‹ (waving) emoji means โ€œhello!โ€ When you see someone in person, itโ€™s common practice to give a little wave when you say hi to them. You can also do more or less the same thing over text or instant message and greet the people you textโ€”since the ๐Ÿ‘‹ emoji mimics the gesture of a hand waving hello.[1]
    • โ€œHey, you! ๐Ÿ‘‹ Howโ€™s it going?โ€
    • โ€œHi!! ๐Ÿ‘‹ Just checking inโ€”are we still good to see that movie on Saturday?โ€
    • The ๐Ÿ‘‹ (waving) emoji technically comes in a variety of different shades representing different skin tones (๐Ÿ‘‹๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘‹๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘‹๐Ÿฝ๐Ÿ‘‹๐Ÿพ๐Ÿ‘‹๐Ÿฟ). You can use the default ๐Ÿ‘‹ emoji or pick the one closest to your skin tone.
  2. 2
    The ๐Ÿ‘‹ (waving) emoji can also mean โ€œgoodbye.โ€ You can wave at someone as a greeting or a goodbye; it really just depends on the context. So, when the ๐Ÿ‘‹ emoji is paired with a farewell message or is sent at the end of a conversation, it means โ€œgoodbyeโ€ or โ€œtalk to you later.โ€[2]
    • โ€œGotta run now! TTYL! ๐Ÿ‘‹โ€
    • โ€œTalk again later? I should get to work now. Bye! ๐Ÿ‘‹โ€
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  3. 3
    A ๐Ÿ‘‹ (waving) emoji can be a sarcastic way to tell someone to go away. When youโ€™re feeling annoyed or fed up with someone, the ๐Ÿ‘‹ emoji can symbolize your desire for them to leave you alone. It can mean anything from โ€œI donโ€™t want to talk right nowโ€ to โ€œWeโ€™re over! Go away,โ€ if you decide to break up with a romantic interest or take a break from a friendship.[3]
    • โ€œYeah, IDK why Tinder matched us, this definitely isn't a good fit. Boy, bye! ๐Ÿ‘‹โ€
    • โ€œWe were friends for a while, but she got so negative lately. I had to say bye to that! ๐Ÿ‘‹โ€
    • Breaking up committed relationships this way isn't common, but you may see it used by people who don't like their match on a dating app, for example, or decide the person they've gone on a couple of dates with isn't right for them.
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Section 2 of 4:

Using the ๐Ÿ‘‹ (Waving) Emoji

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    Send the ๐Ÿ‘‹ (waving) emoji to get someoneโ€™s attention or greet them. To start an exchange over text (or social media message), using the ๐Ÿ‘‹ emoji is a great way to kick things off. Send the emoji alongside your initial message to give a friendly and enthusiastic greeting and get the conversation started on a positive note.[4]
    • โ€œGood morning! ๐Ÿ‘‹ Ready to grab breakfast yet?โ€
    • โ€œHey bestie! ๐Ÿ‘‹ I miss you!!โ€
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    End a text conversation and say goodbye with the ๐Ÿ‘‹ (waving) emoji. When a text exchange reaches a natural stopping pointโ€”or youโ€™re just short on time and need to dashโ€”make it clear that youโ€™re done talking for the moment with the ๐Ÿ‘‹ emoji. Pair it with a light and friendly goodbye message to get your message across.
    • โ€œOMG, time flew by! Gotta say goodbye for now! ๐Ÿ‘‹โ€
    • โ€œHey, can I text you later? Iโ€™m getting a call from my mom now. ๐Ÿ‘‹โ€
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    Tell someone mockingly to leave you alone using the ๐Ÿ‘‹ (waving) emoji. When someone is truly getting on your nerves, you can always use the ๐Ÿ‘‹ emoji to tell them that you want them to go away. You can also use the ๐Ÿ‘‹ emoji to tell someone else about your conflict with this person and describe your feelings about them.
    • โ€œI really didnโ€™t appreciate the way you spoke to me earlier. So, bye. ๐Ÿ‘‹โ€
    • โ€œMy little sister told me I had to let her use my phone. ๐Ÿ™„ Girl, BYE ๐Ÿ‘‹โ€
    • Remember that a flippant text might upset the other personโ€”so, if youโ€™re worried about their reaction, choose a more neutral message. Otherwise, go ahead and tell them how you really feel.
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Section 3 of 4:

Responding to the ๐Ÿ‘‹ (Waving) Emoji

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    Say "hello" back when someone greets you with a ๐Ÿ‘‹ (waving) emoji. Did your friend start a text conversation with you using a ๐Ÿ‘‹ emoji? There are plenty of easy ways you can answer; you could send your own ๐Ÿ‘‹ emoji or give a simple, enthusiastic hello, before responding directly to whatever message they send you.
    • Person 1: โ€œHi! ๐Ÿ‘‹ Got time to chat?โ€
    • Person 2: โ€œHey there! ๐Ÿ‘‹ Yeah, of course, whatโ€™s up?โ€
  2. 2
    Send your own farewell after someone signs off with a ๐Ÿ‘‹ (waving) emoji. When the person youโ€™re texting tries to end a conversation with a ๐Ÿ‘‹ emoji, you can wave goodbye in return or respond with your version of a goodbye message. You could always make loose plans to talk again later while youโ€™re at it.
    • Person 1: โ€œI need to get some work done now. Talk later? ๐Ÿ‘‹โ€
    • Person 2: โ€œSure thing! Iโ€™ll shoot you a text tomorrow afternoon! ๐Ÿ‘‹โ€
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    Give them some space if someone sends a sarcastic ๐Ÿ‘‹ (waving) emoji. If you get a text from someone thatโ€™s clearly a bit mocking and essentially says โ€œgoodbyeโ€ in a sassy, snarky way, the person texting you is probably looking for some space. They want you to know that theyโ€™re done talking to you for the moment, and the best way to respond is to simply give them what they need.
    • Person 1: โ€œWhatever, bye ๐Ÿ‘‹โ€
    • Person 2: โ€œGoodbye. If you want to talk out whatever is wrong, you know where to find me.โ€
    • If you know that you said or did something to upset them, offering an apology might help you mend the relationship.
    • If you donโ€™t know whatโ€™s wrong, however, the best way to navigate that might simply be to let them know your door is open if they ever feel like talking things out.
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Section 4 of 4:

Combinations with the ๐Ÿ‘‹ Emoji

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    Use the ๐Ÿ‘‹ and ๐Ÿฅ› emojis to say โ€œmilkshake.โ€ Since the hand in the ๐Ÿ‘‹ (waving) emoji design could be described as shaking slightly, stringing it together with the ๐Ÿฅ› (milk) emoji is a fun way to say โ€œmilkshakeโ€ (๐Ÿฅ›๐Ÿ‘‹). You could bring up your favorite milkshake flavors, gush about how much you want one, or invite somebody to grab a delicious milkshake with you using the combo.
    • โ€œOooooh. Do you know what sounds really good right now? ๐Ÿฅ›๐Ÿ‘‹โ€
    • โ€œI know this place that does the best milkshakes. Wanna go with me sometime? ๐Ÿฅ›๐Ÿ‘‹โ€
    • You can use the ๐Ÿผ (milk bottle) emoji to write โ€œmilkshakeโ€ alternatively. In that case, the combination would be ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘‹.
  2. 2
    Tell someone to wash their hands with the ๐Ÿฆ ๐Ÿ‘‹ and ๐Ÿ’ง emojis. This colorful string of emojis doesnโ€™t directly spell out a word or phrase, but it does make your wishes pretty clear! Send someone the ๐Ÿฆ  (germ), ๐Ÿ‘‹ (waving), and ๐Ÿ’ง (water drop) emojis when you need them to wash their handsโ€”or, alternatively, when you need to wash your own hands soon.
    • โ€œWait, did you remember to wash your hands? ๐Ÿฆ ๐Ÿ‘‹๐Ÿ’ง Remember, you canโ€™t be too careful!โ€
    • โ€œUgh, I need to wash my hands so badly. ๐Ÿฆ ๐Ÿ‘‹๐Ÿ’ง Iโ€™m gonna be so uncomfortable until I get home!โ€
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    Send someone a goodbye kiss with the ๐Ÿ‘‹ and ๐Ÿ’‹ emojis. Since the ๐Ÿ‘‹ (waving) emoji can be synonymous with โ€œgoodbye,โ€ pairing it with the ๐Ÿ’‹ (kiss) emoji can be like giving someone a kiss goodbye. Use this adorable combination when sending goodbye texts to your loved ones, especially a partner or significant other. Let them know how much you care!
    • โ€œGoodbye, babe! ๐Ÿ‘‹๐Ÿ’‹ Iโ€™ll text you again first thing in the morning!โ€
    • โ€œBye, my love! ๐Ÿ‘‹๐Ÿ’‹ Give me a call when you land safely at your destination, okay? โœˆ๏ธโ€
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About This Article

Glenn Carreau
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Glenn Carreau. Glenn Carreau is a wikiHow Staff Writer, currently based in Los Angeles. With over four years of experience writing for several online publications, she has covered topics ranging from world history to the entertainment industry. Glenn graduated with honors from Columbia College Chicago, earning a B.A. in Interactive Arts and Media and a minor in Professional Writing. Today, Glenn continues to feed her lifelong love of learning while serving wikiHow's many readers. This article has been viewed 3,391 times.
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Co-authors: 3
Updated: February 27, 2023
Views:ย 3,391
Categories: Emoticons and Emojis
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