What Do Animal Emojis Mean?
Emojis are a fun and easy way to communicate with others using symbols and images. They can add color and emotion to your messages, as well as convey meanings that words alone cannot express. One of the most popular categories of emojis is animals. From cute pets to majestic wildlife, there is an animal emoji for every occasion and mood.
But what do animal emojis really mean? How did they come to be and how have they evolved over time? How can you use them effectively in your communication? In this article, we will answer these questions and more. We will also show you the most popular animal emojis and their meanings, as well as some tips and tricks on how to use them creatively.
🐕 🐶 🐩 🐈 🐱 🐀 🐁 🐭 🐹 🐢 🐇 🐰 🐓 🐔 🐣 🐤 🐥 🐦 🐏 🐑 🐐 🐺 🐃 🐂 🐄 🐮 🐴 🐗 🐖 🐷 🐽 🐸
The History and Evolution of Animal Emojis
Animal emojis are not a new phenomenon. They have been around since the early days of the internet, when people used ASCII characters to create simple emoticons like :) or :(. However, it was not until 1999 that the first set of animal emojis was created by Shigetaka Kurita, a Japanese engineer who worked for NTT DoCoMo, a mobile phone company.
Kurita designed 176 emojis based on common objects and expressions in Japan, including 12 animal emojis such as ? (dog), ? (cat), ? (mouse), ? (rabbit), ? (tiger), ? (frog), ? (monkey), ? (pig), ? (cow), ? (bear), ? (chicken), and ? (octopus). These emojis were encoded in Unicode in 2010, which made them compatible with different platforms and devices.
Since then, more animal emojis have been added to the Unicode standard every year, thanks to the efforts of the Unicode Consortium, an organization that regulates and standardizes text on the internet. As of September 2021, there are 236 animal emojis in total, representing a wide range of species from different habitats and regions of the world.
Animal emojis have also changed in appearance over time, depending on the design choices of different vendors such as Apple, Google, Samsung, Facebook, Twitter, etc. For example, some animal emojis have become more realistic and detailed, while others have become more stylized and cartoonish. Some animal emojis have also gained new features or expressions over time.
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The Most Popular Animal Emojis and Their Meanings
According to Emojipedia, a website that tracks the usage and trends of emojis, these are the top 10 animal emojis as of September 2021:
Rank
Emoji
Name
Meaning
1
?
Dog
This emoji shows the face of a dog, usually a generic brown or yellow breed. It can be used to represent dogs in general, or a specific dog that you own or know. It can also express loyalty, friendship, cuteness, or admiration for someone or something.
2
?
Cat
This emoji shows the face of a cat, usually a generic gray or orange breed. It can be used to represent cats in general, or a specific cat that you own or know. It can also express independence, curiosity, sassiness, or affection for someone or something.
3
?
Monkey
This emoji shows the face of a monkey, usually with a wide grin and round ears. It can be used to represent monkeys in general, or a specific monkey that you own or know. It can also express playfulness, mischief, humor, or silliness.
4
?
Panda
This emoji shows the face of a panda, a black-and-white bear native to China. It can be used to represent pandas in general, or a specific panda that you own or know. It can also express endearment, conservation, China, or cuteness overload.
5
?
Bear
This emoji shows the face of a bear, usually a generic brown or black breed. It can be used to represent bears in general, or a specific bear that you own or know. It can also express strength, protection, cuddliness, or fierceness.
6
?
Penguin
This emoji shows the full body of a penguin, a flightless bird that lives in cold regions. It can be used to represent penguins in general, or a specific penguin that you own or know. It can also express adorability, coldness, Antarctica, or formality.
7
?
Snake
This emoji shows the full body of a snake, usually a green or brown serpent. It can be used to represent snakes in general, or a specific snake that you own or know. It can also express slyness, danger, wisdom, or venom.
8
?
Lion
This emoji shows the face of a lion, a large cat that lives in Africa and Asia. It can be used to represent lions in general, or a specific lion that you own or know. It can also express courage, royalty, pride, or fierceness.
9
?
Elephant
This emoji shows the full body of an elephant, a large mammal that lives in Africa and Asia. It can be used to represent elephants in general, or a specific elephant that you own or know. It can also express memory, intelligence, Africa, or conservation.
10
?
Unicorn
This emoji shows the full body of a unicorn, a mythical creature that resembles a horse with a horn on its forehead. It can be used to represent unicorns in general, or a specific unicorn that you own or know. It can also express magic, fantasy, uniqueness, or wonder.
How to Use Animal Emojis Effectively
Animal emojis are not only cute and fun, but also powerful and versatile. They can help you communicate your feelings, thoughts, and ideas in a more expressive and creative way. Here are some tips and tricks on how to use animal emojis effectively in your communication:
Know Your Audience and Context
Before you use any animal emoji, make sure you know who you are talking to and what you are talking about. Different animal emojis may have different meanings and connotations depending on the culture, situation, and tone of the message. For example, ? (snake) may be seen as a compliment or a sign of respect in some cultures, but as an insult or a warning in others. Similarly, ? (dog) may be used to show affection or admiration in some situations, but as a joke or a tease in others.
Therefore, it is important to be aware of the possible interpretations and reactions of your audience and context when using animal emojis. You don't want to offend or confuse anyone with your choice of emoji. You also don't want to use an animal emoji that is irrelevant or inappropriate for the topic or purpose of your message.
Be Creative and Expressive
One of the best things about animal emojis is that they can be combined with other emojis or words to create new meanings and expressions. You can use animal emojis to enhance your emotions, personality, or style in your messages. For example, you can use ? + ? (dog + smiling face with heart-eyes) to show that you love dogs or someone who loves dogs. You can also use ? + ? (cat + cat with wry smile) to show that you are feeling sassy or cheeky.
You can also use animal emojis to create metaphors, similes, idioms, or puns in your messages. For example, you can use ? + ?️ (turtle + man running) to say that someone is slow or lazy. You can also use ? + ? (chicken + egg) to refer to the classic dilemma of which came first. You can also use ? + ? (bear + honey) to make a joke about Winnie the Pooh.
Have Fun and Experiment
The last tip on how to use animal emojis effectively is to have fun and experiment with them. There are so many animal emojis to choose from and discover, and you never know what new meanings and expressions you can create with them. You can also use animal emojis to surprise and delight your friends and family with your creativity and humor.
So don't be afraid to try new animal emojis and use them in different ways. You may find some hidden gems or favorites among them. You may also learn something new about animals or cultures along the way.
Conclusion
Animal emojis are more than just cute pictures of animals. They are a powerful and versatile tool for communication that can help you express yourself better and connect with others more easily. By knowing the history and evolution of animal emojis, the most popular animal emojis and their meanings, and how to use animal emojis effectively, you can make the most out of these amazing symbols.
So what are you waiting for? Start using animal emojis today and see how they can transform your messages into more lively and engaging ones. And don't forget to have fun and experiment with them along the way!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about animal emojis and their answers:
Q: How can I find and use animal emojis on my device?
A: Depending on your device and platform, there are different ways to access and use animal emojis. For example, on most smartphones and tablets, you can tap on the emoji keyboard icon and scroll through the categories to find the animal emojis. You can also use the search function to type in the name of the animal emoji you want. On most computers and laptops, you can use the shortcut Ctrl + Cmd + Space to open the emoji picker and select the animal emoji you want. You can also copy and paste animal emojis from websites like Emojipedia or Get Emoji.
Q: How can I suggest a new animal emoji to be added to the Unicode standard?
A: If you have an idea for a new animal emoji that is not yet available, you can submit a proposal to the Unicode Consortium, the organization that regulates and standardizes text on the internet. However, you need to follow some guidelines and criteria to make a successful proposal. For example, you need to demonstrate that the animal emoji is popular, distinctive, and useful. You also need to provide evidence of its usage and demand, as well as a sample image and description of the animal emoji. You can find more information on how to make a proposal on the Unicode website.
Q: What are some of the newest animal emojis that have been added to the Unicode standard?
A: The latest version of the Unicode standard, Unicode 14.0, was released in September 2021 and added 37 new emojis, including 7 new animal emojis. These are ?️ (polar bear), ?️ (chipmunk), ? (beaver), ? (dodo), ? (bison), ? (mammoth), and ? (seal). These animal emojis were chosen based on their popularity, diversity, and relevance.
Q: What are some of the rarest or most obscure animal emojis that exist?
A: There are some animal emojis that are not very common or well-known, but still exist in the Unicode standard. Some examples are ? (sloth), ? (flamingo), ? (skunk), ? (orangutan), ? (parrot), ? (peacock), ? (hedgehog), ? (llama), ? (kangaroo), ? (badger), ? (raccoon), ? (hippopotamus), ? (swan), and ? (snail).
Q: What are some of the best or worst animal emoji puns or jokes that you have heard or made?
A: Animal emoji puns or jokes are a great way to have fun and make others laugh with your messages. Here are some examples of good and bad animal emoji puns or jokes:
Good: I'm feeling a bit under the weather today. I think I have a cold. ? + ? (panda + face with medical mask)
Bad: What do you call a fish that wears a bowtie? Sofishticated. ? + ? (fish + ribbon)
Good: You are so sweet, you must be made of honey. ? + ? (bear + two hearts)
Bad: What do you call a snake that works for the government? A civil serpent. ? + ? (snake + necktie)
Good: You are such a star, you shine brighter than the sun. ? + ️ (cat + star)
Bad: What do you call a dog that likes to dig? A goldendigger. ? + ? (dog + money bag)
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