What Does the 🦈 Shark Emoji Mean? Plus, How to Use It

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Literal, metaphorical & symbolic meanings of the shark emoji

Co-authored by Devin McSween Reviewed by Candace Gasper

Last Updated: July 2, 2025 Fact Checked

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🦈 Meanings & Uses

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Was there a shark face emoji?

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Emoji Pairings

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Related Emojis

A shark may be a fearsome fish from the sea, but what does it mean when it shows up on your phone as an emoji? While the 🦈 (shark) emoji can represent real sharks, it can also symbolize strength, ambition, and skill, among other things. In this article, we’ll explore all the versatile meanings of the 🦈 emoji, how they’re used, and other related emojis that can spice up your messages. Keep reading to learn more!

Shark Emoji Breakdown

The 🦈 (shark) emoji usually represents real sharks, other sea life, and ocean activities in general. It can also symbolize strength, bravery, and ambition. “Shark” can be slang for someone skilled at something, like cards or pool, so the 🦈 emoji can represent that, too.

Section 1 of 4:

🦈 (Shark) Emoji Meanings & Uses

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1
Send the 🦈 emoji to talk about sharks, sea life, and the ocean. The shark emoji depicts a generic gray shark swimming through the water. So, it’s no surprise that you use it to refer to real-life sharks in texts and on social media! Sharks are associated with other fish and the sea, so you can use the 🦈 emoji when talking about going to the beach, taking a boat ride, or visiting the aquarium.
- “I’m so excited to see the sharks at the aquarium! 🦈🦈🦈”
- “I wonder if we’ll see any sharks at the beach! 🦈🏝️☀️”
2
Use the 🦈 emoji to symbolize strength, bravery, or fierceness. When it comes to the ocean, sharks are at the top of the food chain. These predators are dominant and powerful, so they’re usually associated with strength, authority, fearlessness, and protection.^{[1]
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Research source} Add a 🦈 emoji to your texts or social media posts to share that you feel bold and mighty, too!
- “Beat my lap time in the pool today! Feeling strong 🦈💪”
- “I got asked to be a team leader! I’m glad they see my leadership potential 🦈”
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3
Use the 🦈 emoji to refer to someone ambitious and driven. In the business world, someone who’s motivated, determined, sharp, and a bit aggressive is called a “shark.” Think of the successful business owners on the reality show Shark Tank! You might use the 🦈 emoji to talk about an ambitious coworker, a CEO you admire, or to refer to your own burning ambition.
- “I’m going to keep working hard to make sure I get that raise! 🦈💪🤑”
- “He’s such a shark. He started out with nothing and now has a $100 million empire! 🦈”
4
Send the 🦈 emoji to indicate someone is skilled at something. “Shark” can also be slang for someone with lots of skill or expertise in something. It’s usually used to describe a great poker or billiards player, but it can refer to someone having any type of expert talent. For that reason, you might text the 🦈 emoji to brag about your skills or admire someone else’s.^{[2]
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- “I had no idea you were so good at pool! 🦈🎱”
- “Let’s see if you can beat me at cards next time! 🦈🃏”
5
Text the 🦈 emoji to talk about something dangerous or scary. Because sharks are huge predators with rows and rows of sharp teeth, lots of people find them scary and threatening! That’s probably why they’re antagonists in many famous films, like Jaws and Deep Blue Sea. So, you can use the 🦈 emoji to indicate that you think something is nerve-wracking, intimidating, alarming, or terrifying.
- “I’m so nervous about making my speech tomorrow 🦈😱”
- “I don’t know if I can ride that roller coaster, it’s super intimidating 🦈😰”
6
Text the 🦈 emoji to say that someone is devious or deceitful. Saying that someone is a “shark” can also mean that they’re predatory, sneaky, or scheming. So, you might use the 🦈 emoji to warn a friend about a shady person or business, or to call someone out for being two-faced or dishonest.^{[3]
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- “Don’t go to that store, they tried to scam me by running my credit card twice. 🦈”
- “Donna’s a shark, watch out. She’s asking people for money but has no intention of paying anyone back. 🦈”
7
Use the 🦈 emoji to represent your school or favorite sports team. The shark is a popular mascot for a lot of schools and sports teams. So, add the 🦈 emoji to your texts or social media posts to show off your pride!
- “Go sharks! 🦈🩵🦈🩵”
- “So proud to be a shark! I love my school! 🦈”

Section 2 of 4:

Was there a shark face emoji?

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There was a shark face emoticon on Facebook, but not on mobile devices. If you remember using a shark face emoji, you’re not alone! On Facebook, you used to be able to add a shark face emoji to your posts or messages by typing “(^^^)”. However, Apple, Google, and Samsung have never released a shark face emoji—the 🦈 emoji is the first shark emoji.

Section 3 of 4:

Emoji Pairings

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Pair the 🦈 emoji with other emojis to create unique phrases and meanings. While the 🦈 emoji is great to use on its own, you can combine it with other fun emojis to add to its meaning. For instance, try pairing the shark with these emojis to say:
- 🦈🦑🪼🐊🐬🦭: Aquarium
- 🦈🪸🫧🐠: Under the sea
- 🏝️🐚🌊🦈☀️: Beach vibes
- 🦈🎣🚤: Deep sea fishing
- 🏊🦈😱: Jaws
- 🏃↙️🦈↖️🏃: Jump the shark

Section 4 of 4:

Related Emojis

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The 🦈 emoji is related to lots of other sea life emojis. Check out these other aquatic emojis, as well as what they mean, to talk more about marine life and the ocean.
- 🦀 (crab) emoji: sea life, food, crankiness, the Cancer zodiac sign
- 🐡 (blowfish) emoji: fish, fishing, food, sea life
- 🦑 (squid) emoji: sea life, food, mystery
- 🪼 (jellyfish) emoji: sea life, getting stung
- 🐬 (dolphin) emoji: sea life, swimming, the beach, summer, playfulness
- 🐋 (whale) emoji: sea life, the beach
- 🦭 (seal) emoji: sea life, playfulness