Eggplant emoji
The eggplant π is the most famous innuendo in the emoji set. What it means, when it doesnβt, and how to copy it.
Published Β· Updated
What the eggplant emoji means
π (eggplant, or aubergine outside North America) is the emoji setβs best-known innuendo: it stands for a penis, and has done since at least 2014, to the point that Instagram blocked searches for the eggplant hashtag in 2015. Its shape and colour did the work; Unicode added it as a vegetable in the original set and has never assigned it any other meaning.
That history means the vegetable reading is now the exception. βEggplant parm tonight ππβ still works because the words carry it, but a lone π in a reply is never about dinner. Its usual companions are π, π¦ and π; the freaky emoji guide explains the rest of that set.
Compare the options
| Emoji | Name | Use it for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| eggplantU+1F346 | Innuendo; occasionally the vegetable | Explicit enough to avoid outside private chats | |
| peachU+1F351 | The matching innuendo | See the peach emoji guide | |
| ear of corn / cucumber / carrotU+1F33D Β· U+1F952 Β· U+1F955 | Sometimes used as substitutes | Read as jokes about the π convention | |
| hot face / sweat dropletsU+1F975 Β· U+1F4A6 | Heat, arousal | Amplifiers |
Reading it right
- In a flirtatious chat: it means what you think.
- In a joke among friends: usually mock-suggestive, teasing.
- In a recipe or grocery list: add words, or use π alongside π π§ so the context is obvious.
- In public or work spaces: donβt. Some moderation systems flag it.
Chat examples
Real messages with π, and a reply that fits.
grilled aubergine tonight π
save me some
π parm, the classic
yes please
garden update: three aubergines π
impressive
Questions people ask
What does π mean from a guy?
Innuendo, almost always. If the conversation is not about food, treat it as a sexual reference.
Can I use the eggplant emoji for food?
Yes, with words and other food emoji around it. On its own it will be misread.
Did Instagram ban the eggplant emoji?
In 2015 Instagram blocked hashtag searches for the eggplant emoji because of how it was being used. The emoji itself can still be posted.
About this guide
Written and maintained by the Emoji Directory editorial team, without ads or sponsorship. Meanings describe how the emoji is commonly used in public posts and messages, not an official definition. Names, code points, versions, keywords and translations come from the Unicode Emoji 18.0 and CLDR data; shortcodes from the gemoji project. Last reviewed . Spotted a mistake or a new usage? Tell us, or read how the directory is made.
