Have you ever seen the ๐Ÿ‘… (tongue) emoji pop up in texts and around Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat? You might be surprised to learn that there are many ways to interpret this versatile emoji, from goofing around to getting flirty! We'll show you everything you need to know about the ๐Ÿ‘… (tongue) emoji, how to use it, and how to combine it with other fun emojis.

Section 1 of 5:

What does the ๐Ÿ‘… (tongue) emoji mean?

  1. 1
    The ๐Ÿ‘… (tongue) emoji can convey a playful and joking mood. It's basically like sticking your tongue out at someone, except you're doing it over text! Someone who tells a joke or teases you might pair it with the ๐Ÿ‘… emoji to show you they're just playing aroundโ€”and not trying to genuinely insult you.[1]
    • "Games at my place tonight! Are you ready to lose big time?? ๐Ÿ‘…"
    • "Your taste in movies is AWFUL. You clearly need a little expert help! ๐Ÿ‘…"
  2. 2
    Sometimes, the ๐Ÿ‘… (tongue) emoji means "delicious." Just like you lick your lips at the thought of food, ๐Ÿ‘… can be a digital version of expressing hunger or satisfaction after eating. If someone talks about food in a text or shares a photo of their meal on Instagram and captions it with ๐Ÿ‘…, they're saying it was tasty.[2]
    • "I looked at the menu for that new Mexican restaurant, and OMG, we have to go there!! ๐Ÿ‘…"
    • "Just ate the SPICIEST wings of my life! ๐Ÿ‘…๐Ÿฅต"
    Advertisement
  3. 3
    The ๐Ÿ‘… (tongue) emoji is also a sexual innuendo. People send this emoji to flirt over text or even try some sextingโ€”if you see ๐Ÿ‘… in a steamy text from your date or significant other, they're referring to oral sex. You can tell when ๐Ÿ‘… is being used in a sexual context because typically, other "dirty" emojis will be paired with it.
    • "We're gonna have fun tonight! ๐Ÿ‘…๐Ÿ˜˜"
    • "I'm going to blow your mind! ๐Ÿ‘…๐Ÿ’ฆ๐Ÿคฏ"
    • "It's going down tonight. ๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿ‘…๐Ÿ†"
    • "You'll be seeing fireworks by the time we're done! ๐Ÿ‘…๐ŸŽ†"
  4. Advertisement
Section 2 of 5:

How to Use the ๐Ÿ‘… (Tongue) Emoji

  1. 1
    Tease someone with the ๐Ÿ‘… (tongue) emoji. Poking fun at your friends over text or Facebook messages can be tricky because you can't rely on facial expressions or tone to show them you're joking. However, tacking a ๐Ÿ‘… emoji onto the end of your playful texts will easily get your point across.
    • "I swear, you have the most INSANE ideas! ๐Ÿ‘…"
    • "Fair warning: I'm gonna kick your butt in mini-golf later. ๐Ÿ‘…"
  2. 2
    Send the ๐Ÿ‘… (tongue) emoji when you're hungryโ€”or just ate a good meal. Reassure your texting buddy that their cooking was absolutely delicious, or give them a tasty recommendation with an emoji for emphasis. For example:
    • "Seriously, IDK how you make brownies that good. I couldn't get enough! ๐Ÿ‘…"
    • "All these Halloween commercials are making me crave candy! ๐Ÿ‘…๐Ÿซ"
  3. 3
    Use the ๐Ÿ‘… (tongue) emoji to flirt with your date or significant other. When you're feeling flirty and playful, you can send the ๐Ÿ‘… emoji to show your partner that you're in the mood for some sexting. Pair ๐Ÿ‘… with other emojis like ๐Ÿ† (eggplant), ๐Ÿ‘ (peach), ๐ŸŒฎ (taco), and ๐Ÿ’ฆ (sweat droplets) to make it clear that you're referencing oral sex with your partner.
    • When sexting, ๐Ÿ† means male genitalia, ๐ŸŒฎ refers to feminine genitalia, ๐Ÿ‘ refers to a booty, and ๐Ÿ’ฆ means an orgasm.
    • "I've been thinking about last nightโ€ฆit was so much fun! ๐Ÿ‘…๐Ÿ’ฆ๐Ÿ’ฆ"
    • "So, about last night. When can we do that again? ๐Ÿ‘…๐ŸŒฎ๐Ÿคฏ"
    • "When can we hang out again? I miss you already. ๐Ÿ˜˜๐Ÿ‘…"
  4. Advertisement
Section 3 of 5:

How to Reply to the ๐Ÿ‘… (Tongue) Emoji

  1. 1
    Laugh at the joke. If a friend starts teasing you over text, the easiest way to respond is to laugh along with them and poke them back with a joke of your own. The ๐Ÿ‘… emoji sets the playful mood of the exchange, so feel free to use a ๐Ÿ˜‚ (laughing face) emoji or tease your friend and pair it with an emoji that tells them you're joking too, like ๐Ÿ˜‰ (winking face) or ๐Ÿคช(zany face).
    • "Lol, I don't know what you're talking about! I think my taste in moves is top-notch! ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿคช"
    • "You WISH you were better at Mario Party than me! It's on! ๐Ÿ˜‰"
  2. 2
    Drop a comment on a food picture. When someone makes a post on Facebook or Instagram featuring photos of their meal, respond and let them know how great it looks! You could even ask for a recipe if you're curious or request a demonstration the next time you hang out.
    • "Woah!! Did you make that cake yourself? It looks gorgeousโ€”and I bet it tasted amazing! ๐Ÿคค"
    • "I'm gonna need the recipe for that garlic pesto. It sounds delicious! ๐Ÿ˜"
  3. 3
    Send a sexy message back to your texting partner. A steamy text with the ๐Ÿ‘… emoji is an excellent opening to a sexting session with your significant other. Respond with enthusiasm if they use the ๐Ÿ‘… emoji to describe what they want to do with you, and offer a few dirty emoji pairings of your own to get their heart racing.
    • "I like where this is going! ๐Ÿ”ฅWhat would you want to do next??"
    • "Two can play at this game! I have a few ideas of my ownโ€ฆ ๐Ÿ‘…๐ŸŒฎ๐Ÿ’ฆ๐Ÿ˜˜"
  4. Advertisement
Section 5 of 5:

What's the difference between the ๐Ÿ‘… (tongue) emoji and the ๐Ÿ˜› (face with tongue) emoji?

  1. 1
    The ๐Ÿ˜› (face with tongue) emoji is goofier than the ๐Ÿ‘… (tongue) emoji. While ๐Ÿ‘… can be used as sexual innuendo, the ๐Ÿ˜› emoji is mainly paired with jokes and teasing statements over text. Your crush may also message you ๐Ÿ˜› after saying something bold as a sort of fail-safe; that way, if you don't reciprocate, they can backpedal and say they were joking.[3]
    • "You know, you're really cute. ๐Ÿ˜›"
    • "Omg, you like Lord of the Rings too? I think we're meant to be! ๐Ÿ˜›"
  2. 2
    The ๐Ÿ˜› (face with tongue) emoji also means "I'm excited!" This emoji's happy face and open mouth can also symbolize intense enthusiasm. Use it when you're feeling super pumped about something, and want to express your excitement over text or social media.
    • "Tonight is going to be SO much fun!! ๐Ÿ˜›"
    • "My favorite artist is dropping new tunes tomorrow! OMG! ๐Ÿ˜›"
  3. 3
    The ๐Ÿ˜› (face with tongue) emoji also conveys humor. Use face emojis like ๐Ÿ˜œ, ๐Ÿ˜‹, and ๐Ÿคช either alongside ๐Ÿ‘… or as an alternative.[4]
    • The ๐Ÿ˜‹ (face savoring food) emoji can describe something delicious.
    • The ๐Ÿ˜œ (winking face with tongue) emoji can be used to joke around or get flirty.
    • The ๐Ÿคช (zany face) emoji can be used to goof around or get wacky.
    • The ๐Ÿ˜ (squinting face with tongue) emoji expresses fun and hilarity.
  4. Advertisement

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 183,970 times.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 8
Updated: March 6, 2023
Views:ย 183,970
Categories: Emoticons and Emojis
Advertisement