Heart eyes emoji
😍 is adoration at full volume — for people, food, outfits and holiday photos. Copy it here and see when the softer 🥰 or the starry 🤩 fits better.
Published · Updated
What the heart eyes emoji means
😍 (smiling face with heart-eyes) is adoration turned all the way up. Under a photo it means gorgeous; under a plate of food it means I need this; in a reply it means I love that. It is as often about objects, places and pets as about people, which keeps it from being purely romantic: “this kitchen 😍” is a normal thing to send an estate agent.
Two relatives split the meaning. 🥰 (smiling face with hearts, Emoji 11.0) is softer: being loved, feeling warm, “aww”. 🤩 (star-struck, Emoji 5.0) is excitement rather than love, the face for celebrities and big announcements. 😻 is the cat version of 😍 and belongs with the other cat faces in the cat emoji guide.
Compare the options
| Emoji | Name | Use it for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| smiling face with heart-eyesU+1F60D | “Gorgeous”, “I want this”, adoration | Flirty when aimed at a person | |
| smiling face with heartsU+1F970 | Feeling loved, warm, “aww” | Softer; less about wanting | |
| star-struckU+1F929 | Excitement, awe, fandom | Not romantic — see the star emoji guide | |
| smiling cat with heart-eyesU+1F63B | Cat heart-eyes; silly adoration | Cat faces render inconsistently | |
| face blowing a kissU+1F618 | A kiss | See the kiss emoji guide |
Sending it without overdoing it
- Photos of people you know: 😍 is a compliment; from a stranger it is a come-on.
- Food, travel, homes, pets: always safe.
- Replying to good news: 🥰 or 🤩 usually fit better than 😍.
- Work: 😍 about a design or a result is fine; about a colleague, no.
Chat examples
Real messages with 😍, and a reply that fits.
the puppy 😍
I need to meet him
that cake 😍🤩
save me a slice
you two 🥰
aww stop
Questions people ask
What does 😍 mean from a guy or a girl?
Strong admiration. Aimed at a person it is usually flirtatious; aimed at food, a place or a thing it is simply enthusiasm.
What is the difference between 😍 and 🥰?
😍 wants; 🥰 feels loved. 😍 is the reaction to something gorgeous, 🥰 the reaction to being treated kindly.
Is there a heart eyes emoji without the smile?
No single character. 😻 is the cat version; for hearts alone, see the heart emoji guide.
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.
