Holding hands emoji ๐ซ ๐ญ ๐ฌ ๐งโ๐คโ๐ง
Four emoji show two people holding hands. ๐ซ woman and man holding hands is the original couple (2010); ๐ญ women holding hands and ๐ฌ men holding hands joined it, andโฆ
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What the holding hands ๐ซ ๐ญ ๐ฌ ๐งโ๐คโ๐ง emoji means
Four emoji show two people holding hands. ๐ซ woman and man holding hands is the original couple (2010); ๐ญ women holding hands and ๐ฌ men holding hands joined it, and ๐งโ๐คโ๐ง people holding hands (Emoji 12.0, 2019) is gender-neutral and, uniquely, lets each person take a different skin tone. They mean friends, couples, partners, solidarity โ โbesties ๐ญโ, a date night, Pride, a hand-in-hand walk. ๐ซ reads as a couple, ๐ญ and ๐ฌ as friends or same-sex couples depending on context. For the romantic couple with a heart use ๐; for dancing pairs ๐ฏ people with bunny ears.
Unicode name: woman and man holding hands ยท U+1F46B ยท Emoji 0.6 (original set) ยท group: People & Body.
How people use it
- Friends: best friends, girlsโ trips, bromances
- Couples: dates, anniversaries
- Pride and solidarity: hand in hand
- Kids: siblings, school buddies
Compare the options
| Emoji | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| woman and man holding handsU+1F46B | Couple | |
| women holding handsU+1F46D | Female friends or couple | |
| men holding handsU+1F46C | Male friends or couple | |
| people holding handsU+1F9D1 U+200D U+1F91D U+200D U+1F9D1 | Neutral, mixable tones | |
| couple with heartU+1F491 | Romantic couple | |
| people with bunny earsU+1F46F | Twins, dance partners |
Friendship emoji: more ways to show your bond
Holding hands emojis ๐ซ ๐ญ ๐ฌ ๐งโ๐คโ๐ง are direct ways to show friendship, but they are not the only ones that express platonic affection. The people with bunny ears emoji ๐ฏ can suit best friends or a fun girlsโ night out, while the handshake emoji ๐ค works well for friendship between mates or new acquaintances. The gender-neutral ๐งโ๐คโ๐ง is particularly useful for mixed-gender groups or when you prefer not to specify genders. You might combine these with other symbols like the sparkles emoji โจ to add a celebratory tone. In captions, phrases like โbesties forever ๐ญโ or โbromance goals ๐ฌโ are one way to use them, helping convey warmth without romantic overtones.
Relationship emoji: from holding hands to hearts
When a relationship turns romantic, emoji can help show the progression from a simple hand-hold to deeper affection. The kiss emoji ๐ is a direct step up from holding hands, showing a couple sharing a kiss. For a more whimsical expression of love, the heart eyes emoji ๐ indicates adoration, while the ring emoji ๐ signals a serious commitment like engagement or marriage. The red heart emoji โค๏ธ is a simple way to say โI love you.โ You might pair them in a message: ๐ซ for a first date, ๐ for falling in love, ๐ for the big question.
Questions people ask
What does ๐ซ mean?
A woman and a man holding hands โ a couple, or close friends.
Is there a friends emoji?
๐ญ ๐ฌ ๐ซ and ๐งโ๐คโ๐ง all work for friends; ๐ฏ people with bunny ears is used for best friends too.
Can holding-hands emoji have different skin tones?
Yes โ ๐งโ๐คโ๐ง and, since Emoji 12.1, the gendered pairs can mix tones on supporting devices.
What does ๐ฌ two guys holding hands mean?
It can represent a close friendship, brotherhood, or a same-sex romantic relationship depending on context. Itโs the male counterpart to ๐ญ women holding hands and can be used for bromances or pride celebrations.
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.
