What Does the 👋 (Waving) Emoji Mean?

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Add some extra personality to your texts with the 👋 (waving) emoji

Co-authored by Glenn Carreau Reviewed by Anyah Le Gilmore-Jones

Last Updated: October 17, 2024 Fact Checked

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What does the 👋 (waving) emoji mean?

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Using the 👋 (Waving) Emoji

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Responding to the 👋 (Waving) Emoji

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Combinations with the 👋 Emoji

What does it really mean when someone texts you the 👋 (waving) emoji? We’re here to explain everything! The 👋 (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. We’ve put together a complete guide to the 👋 (waving) emoji, including a thorough overview of its meanings, uses, and tips on how to reply to it.

Things You Should Know

The 👋 (waving) emoji generally means “hello,” or “goodbye," though it can also be a sassy, sarcastic way to say “go away.”
Use the 👋 (waving) emoji to begin or end texting conversations with people in a friendly way.
Alternatively, use the 👋 (waving) emoji to snarkily end a conversation (or an entire relationship) with someone who is bothering you.

Section 1 of 4:

What does the 👋 (waving) emoji mean?

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1
The 👋 (waving) emoji means “hello!” When you see someone in person, it’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 text—since the 👋 emoji mimics the gesture of a hand waving hello. ^{[1]
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Journal published by UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, which uses scientific research to promote happier living
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- “Hey, you! 👋 How’s it going?”
- “Hi!! 👋 Just checking in—are we still good to see that movie on Saturday?”
- The 👋 (waving) emoji technically comes in a variety of different shades representing different skin tones (👋🏻👋🏼👋🏽👋🏾👋🏿). You can use the default 👋 emoji or pick the one closest to your skin tone.
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The 👋 (waving) emoji can also mean “goodbye.” You can wave at someone as a greeting or a goodbye; it really just depends on the context. So, when the 👋 emoji is paired with a farewell message or is sent at the end of a conversation, it means “goodbye” or “talk to you later.” ^{[2]
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- “Gotta run now! TTYL! 👋”
- “Talk again later? I should get to work now. Bye! 👋”
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3
A 👋 (waving) emoji can be a sarcastic way to tell someone to go away. When you’re feeling annoyed or fed up with someone, the 👋 emoji can symbolize your desire for them to leave you alone. It can mean anything from “I don’t want to talk right now” to “We’re over! Go away,” if you decide to break up with a romantic interest or take a break from a friendship. ^{[3]
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Trustworthy Source
Greater Good Magazine
Journal published by UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, which uses scientific research to promote happier living
Go to source}
- “Yeah, IDK why Tinder matched us, this definitely isn't a good fit. Boy, bye! 👋”
- “We were friends for a while, but she got so negative lately. I had to say bye to that! 👋”
- 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.

Section 2 of 4:

Using the 👋 (Waving) Emoji

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1
Send the 👋 (waving) emoji to get someone’s attention or greet them. To start an exchange over text (or social media message), using the 👋 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]
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- “Good morning! 👋 Ready to grab breakfast yet?”
- “Hey bestie! 👋 I miss you!!”
2
End a text conversation and say goodbye with the 👋 (waving) emoji. When a text exchange reaches a natural stopping point—or you’re just short on time and need to dash—make it clear that you’re done talking for the moment with the 👋 emoji. Pair it with a light and friendly goodbye message to get your message across. ^{[5]
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- “OMG, time flew by! Gotta say goodbye for now! 👋”
- “Hey, can I text you later? I’m getting a call from my mom now. 👋”
3
Tell someone mockingly to leave you alone using the 👋 (waving) emoji. When someone is truly getting on your nerves, you can always use the 👋 emoji to tell them that you want them to go away. You can also use the 👋 emoji to tell someone else about your conflict with this person and describe your feelings about them.
- “I really didn’t appreciate the way you spoke to me earlier. So, bye. 👋”
- “My little sister told me I had to let her use my phone. 🙄 Girl, BYE 👋”
- Remember that a flippant text might upset the other person—so, if you’re worried about their reaction, choose a more neutral message. Otherwise, go ahead and tell them how you really feel.

Section 3 of 4:

Responding to the 👋 (Waving) Emoji

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1
Say "hello" back when someone greets you with a 👋 (waving) emoji. Did your friend start a text conversation with you using a 👋 emoji? There are plenty of easy ways you can answer; you could send your own 👋 emoji or give a simple, enthusiastic hello, before responding directly to whatever message they send you. ^{[6]
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Trustworthy Source
Greater Good Magazine
Journal published by UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, which uses scientific research to promote happier living
Go to source}
- Person 1: “Hi! 👋 Got time to chat?”
- Person 2: “Hey there! 👋 Yeah, of course, what’s up?”
2
Send your own farewell after someone signs off with a 👋 (waving) emoji. When the person you’re texting tries to end a conversation with a 👋 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 you’re at it.
- Person 1: “I need to get some work done now. Talk later? 👋”
- Person 2: “Sure thing! I’ll shoot you a text tomorrow afternoon! 👋”
3
Give them some space if someone sends a sarcastic 👋 (waving) emoji. If you get a text from someone that’s clearly a bit mocking and essentially says “goodbye” in a sassy, snarky way, the person texting you is probably looking for some space. They want you to know that they’re done talking to you for the moment, and the best way to respond is to simply give them what they need.
- Person 1: “Whatever, bye 👋”
- Person 2: “Goodbye. If you want to talk out whatever is wrong, you know where to find me.”
- If you know that you said or did something to upset them, offering an apology might help you mend the relationship.
- If you don’t know what’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.

Section 4 of 4:

Combinations with the 👋 Emoji

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1
Use the 👋 and 🥛 emojis to say “milkshake.” Since the hand in the 👋 (waving) emoji design could be described as shaking slightly, stringing it together with the 🥛 (milk) emoji is a fun way to say “milkshake” (🥛👋). 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.
- “Oooooh. Do you know what sounds really good right now? 🥛👋”
- “I know this place that does the best milkshakes. Wanna go with me sometime? 🥛👋”
- You can use the 🍼 (milk bottle) emoji to write “milkshake” alternatively. In that case, the combination would be 🍼👋.
2
Tell someone to wash their hands with the 🦠👋 and 💧 emojis. This colorful string of emojis doesn’t directly spell out a word or phrase, but it does make your wishes pretty clear! Send someone the 🦠 (germ), 👋 (waving), and 💧 (water drop) emojis when you need them to wash their hands—or, alternatively, when you need to wash your own hands soon.
- “Wait, did you remember to wash your hands? 🦠👋💧 Remember, you can’t be too careful!”
- “Ugh, I need to wash my hands so badly. 🦠👋💧 I’m gonna be so uncomfortable until I get home!”
3
Send someone a goodbye kiss with the 👋 and 💋 emojis. Since the 👋 (waving) emoji can be synonymous with “goodbye,” pairing it with the 💋 (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!
- “Goodbye, babe! 👋💋 I’ll text you again first thing in the morning!”
- “Bye, my love! 👋💋 Give me a call when you land safely at your destination, okay? ✈️”

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What Does the 👋 (Waving) Emoji Mean?

Things You Should Know

Steps

What does the 👋 (waving) emoji mean?

Using the 👋 (Waving) Emoji

Responding to the 👋 (Waving) Emoji

Combinations with the 👋 Emoji

Expert Q&A

Tips

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