Devil emoji
Copy the smiling devil 😈 and the angry devil 👿, and learn why one is mischievous and flirty while the other is genuinely furious.
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Two devils, opposite moods
😈 (smiling face with horns) is purple, grinning and harmless. It means mischief, a cheeky plan, naughty, and in flirting it is the standard suggestive wink, which is why it appears in the freaky emoji guide. 👿 (angry face with horns) is the same purple face with a scowl, and it means real anger or malice: I’m furious, evil, villain. People sometimes send 👿 thinking it is the playful one; check the mouth.
The two Japanese folklore masks, 👹 (ogre) and 👺 (goblin), are often lumped in as “devil emoji”. 👹 is a red oni, used for monsters, Halloween and intimidation; 👺 is the long-nosed tengu, used for being nosy or arrogant. They are not devils, but they cover similar ground in horror and villain themes.
Compare the options
| Emoji | Name | Use it for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| smiling face with hornsU+1F608 | Mischief, a plan, flirting, playful evil | Reads as suggestive in a flirty chat | |
| angry face with hornsU+1F47F | Anger, malice, actual villainy | Not playful; see the angry emoji guide for milder options | |
| ogreU+1F479 | Monster, Halloween, “beast mode” | Japanese ogre, not a devil | |
| goblinU+1F47A | Nosy, arrogant, a mask | Japanese tengu; niche | |
| fireU+1F525 | Heat, “hot”, hell jokes | See the fire emoji guide |
How people use 😈
- Plans: “surprise party is a go 😈”
- Competition: “see you on the field 😈”
- Flirting: a single 😈 after a suggestive line
- Halloween: 😈🎃👻
- Dark humour: “ate the last slice 😈”
Questions people ask
What does 😈 mean from a girl or a guy?
Mischief or a playful, suggestive tone, from anyone. In a flirtatious conversation it signals intent; elsewhere it just means “I’m up to something”.
What is the difference between 😈 and 👿?
The mouth. 😈 smiles and is playful; 👿 scowls and is angry or evil. They are separate characters: U+1F608 and U+1F47F.
Is there a devil emoji with a pitchfork?
No. The horned faces are the only devils in the standard set. 🔱 (trident emblem) exists as a separate symbol.
