Hand gestures emojis are a special type of emojis that show actions, signs, or body language using the hand. People use them daily on WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and other chats. These emojis replace words with simple hand signs like thumbs up, waving, praying, or pointing.
In this article, we will learn the meaning and usage of all hand gesture emojis in English.
What are Hand Gesture Emojis?
Hand gesture emojis are symbols of the hand that show feelings, reactions, or actions. They are used for:
- Agreement or Disagreement → 👍 👎
- Greetings → 👋
- Prayer or Thanks → 🙏
- Pointing Attention → ☝️ 👉
Example:
- 👍 → Yes, I agree
- 🙏 → Thanks or prayer
List of Hand Gesture Emojis with Meanings
Below is the complete list of hand emojis, their name, meaning, and daily usage.
1. 👍 Thumbs Up
Meaning: Yes, agreement, approval.
Usage: “That’s great 👍”
2. 👎 Thumbs Down
Meaning: No, disapproval, dislike.
Usage: “I don’t agree 👎”
3. 👋 Waving Hand
Meaning: Hello, goodbye, greeting.
Usage: “Hi friend 👋”
4. 🤲 Palms Up Together
Meaning: Asking, offering, receiving.
Usage: “Please give me 🤲”
5. 🙏 Folded Hands
Meaning: Prayer, thanks, respect.
Usage: “Thank you so much 🙏”
6. 👏 Clapping Hands
Meaning: Applause, congratulations.
Usage: “Well done 👏”
7. 👐 Open Hands
Meaning: Openness, hug, sharing.
Usage: “Welcome 👐”
8. ✌️ Victory Hand
Meaning: Peace, win, positivity.
Usage: “Peace out ✌️”
9. 🤞 Crossed Fingers
Meaning: Hope, wish, good luck.
Usage: “Wish me luck 🤞”
10. 🤟 Love-You Gesture
Meaning: “I love you” (American sign).
Usage: “Love you 🤟”
11. 🤘 Sign of the Horns
Meaning: Rock on, fun, excitement.
Usage: “Party time 🤘”
12. 🤙 Call Me Hand
Meaning: Call me, phone gesture.
Usage: “Call me later 🤙”
13. 👌 OK Hand
Meaning: Okay, perfect, agreement.
Usage: “That’s perfect 👌”
14. Pinched Fingers
Meaning: Italian gesture, “What do you mean?”.
Usage: “Really?”
15. 👈 Backhand Index Pointing Left
Meaning: Pointing to left.
Usage: “Look at this 👈”
16. 👉 Backhand Index Pointing Right
Meaning: Pointing to right.
Usage: “Check this 👉”
17. 👆 Backhand Index Pointing Up
Meaning: Attention, look up.
Usage: “Read the note above 👆”
18. 👇 Backhand Index Pointing Down
Meaning: Pointing below.
Usage: “See details below 👇”
19. ☝️ Index Finger Pointing Up
Meaning: One, important point, attention.
Usage: “Just one chance ☝️”
20. ✋ Raised Hand
Meaning: Stop, high five.
Usage: “Stop there ✋”
21. 🖐️ Hand with Fingers Splayed
Meaning: Open palm, high five.
Usage: “High five 🖐️”
22. 🖖 Vulcan Salute
Meaning: Sci-fi greeting (Star Trek).
Usage: “Live long and prosper 🖖”
23. 🤚 Raised Back of Hand
Meaning: Raise hand, attention.
Usage: “I want to answer 🤚”
24. ✍️ Writing Hand
Meaning: Writing, taking notes.
Usage: “Busy writing ✍️”
25. 👊 Oncoming Fist
Meaning: Punch, fist bump.
Usage: “Strong move 👊”
26. 🤛 Left-Facing Fist
Meaning: Fist bump (left).
Usage: “Bro power 🤛”
27. 🤜 Right-Facing Fist
Meaning: Fist bump (right).
Usage: “Respect 🤜”
28. ✊ Raised Fist
Meaning: Strength, protest, power.
Usage: “We stand together ✊”
29. 🖕 Middle Finger
Meaning: Rude gesture, disrespect.
Usage: “Go away 🖕”
30. ✋✌️ (Variation Together)
Meaning: Stop + Peace (combo use in chats).
Why Use Hand Gesture Emojis?
- They make messages clearer and shorter.
- They show actions without words.
- They are universal (everyone understands).
Example:
- Instead of writing “I agree with you”, just send 👍
- Instead of “Call me later”, just send 🤙
Hand gesture emojis are a powerful way to show actions, signs, and feelings in daily chats. From 👍 thumbs up to 🙏 folded hands, these emojis make conversations faster, more fun, and emotional.
Now you know the meaning and usage of all hand gesture emojis in English. Try using them in your daily chats to express yourself more clearly and smartly.
FAQs
What are hand gesture emojis?
Hand gesture emojis are symbols that show actions or signs with the hand, such as 👍, 👋, and 🙏.
Why do people use hand emojis?
People use them to express feelings or reactions quickly without long text.
What is the most popular hand emoji?
The 👍 Thumbs Up emoji is the most used hand emoji, meaning yes or approval.
Do hand gesture emojis have the same meaning everywhere?
Most meanings are universal, but some can change by culture.
Can I use hand emojis in formal chats?
Yes, but only simple ones like 👍, 👏, or 🙏 are common in work or formal messages.
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