Handshake emoji
🤝 is a deal, agreement or respect. Copy it here, including the mixed-tone versions.
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What the handshake emoji means
🤝 is agreement made visible: a deal, a partnership, “respect”, “we got this”, welcome to the team. It is one of the few gestures with mixed skin-tone versions — since Emoji 14.0 the two hands can carry different tones, such as 🫱🏻🫲🏽, as joined sequences — alongside the single-tone versions. It is a favourite in business posts and in “collab” announcements.
Unicode name: handshake · U+1F91D · Emoji 3.0 (2016) · group: People & Body.
How people use it
- Deals and collabs: 🤝 in announcements
- Respect: “🤝 to everyone who helped”
- Solidarity: with 💪 or ✊
- Agreement: “deal 🤝”
Compare the options
| Emoji | Name | Use it for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| handshakeU+1F91D | Deal, agreement, respect | Mixed-tone versions are ZWJ sequences | |
| oncoming fistU+1F44A | Fist bump | See the fist emoji guide | |
| heart handsU+1FAF6 | Appreciation | See the heart hands guide | |
| folded handsU+1F64F | Thanks | See the pray emoji guide |
How the handshake emoji works for meetings and teamwork
The handshake emoji 🤝 works well in work chats to signal that a meeting went well, a decision was reached, or everyone is on the same page. It is also a quick way to show teamwork and collaboration without typing a long message.
- Follow up after a meeting: “Great call 🤝 next steps coming”
- Announce a partnership: “Proud to collaborate with @team 🤝”
- Show support: “We’re all in this together 🤝”
Pair 🤝 with other business emojis like 💼 or 📈 to reinforce the idea of teamwork, or use it alone when a simple acknowledgement is enough. For a more casual tone, 👊 works, but 🤝 remains a clear symbol for formal collaboration and partnership.
The handshake emoji as a meme and in black and white
The handshake emoji is sometimes used as a meme, often ironically representing an agreement that is awkward, forced, or surprising. You might see it paired with text like “when the group project finally agrees on something” or used in reaction images to seal a sarcastic deal.
The handshake emoji displays in colour on most platforms, but monochrome displays or certain fonts may render it in black and white. If you need a greyscale version for a document, use a monochrome font or an image editor to create one.
Chat examples
Real messages with 🤝, and a reply that fits.
deal? 🤝
deal 🤝
great working with you 🤝
likewise
truce 🤝
truce
Questions people ask
Why does my handshake show two hands separately?
The mixed skin-tone versions are joined sequences (🫱 + 🫲 with tones); older devices split them. The plain 🤝 displays everywhere.
What does 🤝 mean in a comment?
Agreement or respect — “we’re on the same page” or “well done”.
Does the handshake emoji support different skin tones?
Yes, the handshake emoji supports skin tone modifiers. On many platforms you can choose a tone for each hand, so both people can be represented accurately.
What is the shaking hands emoji meme?
The shaking hands emoji can appear in meme formats to signal agreement or a deal, sometimes paired with captions that exaggerate a pact. The emoji itself is a pictogram of two hands clasped in a handshake.
Why is the handshake emoji sometimes shown in black and white?
Black and white versions of the handshake emoji can be made by applying a filter or editing the image, since the standard emoji has no greyscale option. The plain 🤝 supports skin-tone modifiers, but those do not change the base colour to black and white.
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.
