Sideways hand emoji 🫲
The sideways hand emoji 🫲 is an open hand with fingers together, pointing left. It pairs with 🫱 rightwards hand to frame objects or show direction.
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What the sideways hand emoji means
The sideways hand emoji 🫲 shows a leftwards hand: an open hand with fingers together, pointing left. It is the mirror image of the rightwards hand 🫱, and the two are designed to be used as a pair.
In Unicode, this character is named “leftwards hand”. The fingers are held straight rather than splayed, which distinguishes it from several older hand emojis.
For a broader look at all hand gestures, see hand emoji meanings.
How people use the sideways hand emoji
People often use it to indicate direction, especially in written instructions or casual messages. Pairing 🫲 with 🫱 frames an object or word, similar to putting it between two hands.
You will also see it used in sequences with other hand emojis, such as 🫲📦🫱 to present a package or gift.
- Pointing left in navigation or instructions
- Framing an object with the rightwards hand
- Suggesting a swipe left gesture
- Showing something to the left in a photo caption
See the rightwards hand emoji for the matching gesture in the other direction.
Compare leftwards hand with similar emoji
| Emoji | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| leftwards handU+1FAF2 | Points left, fingers together | |
| rightwards handU+1FAF1 | Points right, fingers together | |
| waving handU+1F44B | Waving, palm forward | |
| raised back of handU+1F91A | Back of hand showing, fingers up | |
| leftwards pushing handU+1FAF7 | Pushing left | |
| raised handU+270B | Open hand, palm forward |
Similar hand emojis and how to tell them apart
The leftwards hand is often confused with the raised back of hand 🤚, hand with fingers splayed 🖐️, raised hand ✋ and waving hand 👋. The key difference is direction: 🫲 points left, while the others face forward or wave.
It is also distinct from the leftwards pushing hand 🫷, which shows a hand pushing to the left. The palm down 🫳 and palm up 🫴 emojis show a hand from above or below rather than from the front — see palm down hand emoji and palm up hand emoji.
A similar directional gesture is the Vulcan salute 🖖, but that splits the fingers in a V shape.
How to type or copy the sideways hand emoji
On your phone or computer, open the emoji keyboard and search for “leftwards hand” or “sideways hand”. You can often find it in the hand gestures section.
You can also copy it from this page: select the emoji 🫲 and paste it wherever you need it. Some desktop operating systems allow you to insert emojis via an on‑screen picker or a keyboard shortcut.
For more ways to access emojis, see emoji keyboard shortcuts.
What to expect on older devices
On devices with older operating systems, this emoji may not display correctly.
If you are sending it to someone whose device does not support it, consider pairing it with a word or using a more widely supported gesture, such as the raised hand ✋.
The same compatibility note applies to the rightwards hand 🫱. If the recipient sees both as boxes, a short phrase like “turn left” is clearer.
Questions people ask
What does the sideways hand emoji mean?
It shows a leftwards hand with fingers together, pointing left. People often use it to indicate direction or to frame something with the rightwards hand.
Is the sideways hand emoji the same as the pushing hand?
No. The leftwards pushing hand 🫷 shows a pushing motion to the left, while the sideways hand 🫲 is an open hand pointing left. They are different gestures.
How do I type the sideways hand emoji?
Open the emoji keyboard and search for “leftwards hand”, or copy the emoji from this page. Most phones include it in the hand gestures category.
Can I use the sideways hand emoji with the rightwards hand?
Yes, they work well together to frame text or emojis, such as 🫲📦🫱.
What is the difference between sideways hand and raised hand?
The raised hand ✋ faces forward with fingers together, while the sideways hand points left. The sideways hand is more directional.
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.
