What Does the Waving Hand 👋 Emoji Really Mean?

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Say “hello” or “goodbye” with this cute emoji
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What does it really mean when someone texts you the waving 👋 emoji? We’re here to explain everything! Also known as the hello emoji or the hand wave emoji, the 👋 emoji can be used in several ways to say “hello” or “goodbye.” We’ve put together a complete guide, including an overview of what it means, how it’s used, and tips on how to reply to it. Keep scrolling to learn more!

Wave Emoji 👋 Overview

The 👋 emoji generally means “hello,” or “goodbye,” though it can also be a sassy, sarcastic way to say “go away.” This emoji typically begins or ends texting conversations with people in a friendly way, but it can also be used to snarkily end a conversation with someone bothersome.

Section 1 of 5:

What does the waving emoji 👋 mean?

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  1. Step 1 The 👋 emoji means “hello!”
    When you see someone in person, it’s common practice to give a little wave when you say hi to them. You can also do more or less the same thing over text or instant message and greet the people you text, since the 👋 emoji mimics the gesture of a hand waving hello.[1]
    • “Hey, you! 👋 How’s it going?”
    • “Hi!! 👋 Just checking in—are we still good to see that movie on Saturday?”
    • The 👋 emoji technically comes in a variety of different shades representing different skin tones (👋🏻👋🏼👋🏽👋🏾👋🏿). Use the default 👋 emoji or pick the one closest to your skin tone.
  2. Step 2 The 👋 emoji can also mean “goodbye.”
    You can wave at someone as a greeting or a goodbye; it really just depends on the context. So, when the 👋 emoji is paired with a farewell message or is sent at the end of a conversation, it means “goodbye” or “talk to you later.”[2]
    • “Gotta run now! TTYL! 👋”
    • “Talk again later? I should get to work now. Bye! 👋”
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  3. Step 3 A 👋 emoji can be a sarcastic way to tell someone to go away.
    When you’re feeling annoyed or fed up with someone, the 👋 emoji can symbolize your desire for them to leave you alone. It can mean anything from “I don’t want to talk right now” to “We’re over! Go away,” if you’re chatting with someone on a dating app, for example.[3]
    • “Yeah, IDK why Tinder matched us, this definitely isn't a good fit. Boy, bye! 👋”
    • “We were friends for a while, but she got so negative lately. I had to say bye to that! 👋”
    • Breaking up committed relationships this way isn't common, but you may see it used by people who don't like their match on a dating app, for example, or decide the person they’ve gone on a couple of dates with isn't right for them.
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Section 2 of 5:

Using the 👋 Emoji

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  1. Step 1 Send the 👋 emoji to get someone’s attention or greet them.
    To start an exchange over text (or social media message), using the 👋 emoji is a great way to kick things off. Send the emoji alongside your initial message to give a friendly and enthusiastic greeting and get the conversation started on a positive note.[4]
    • “Good morning! 👋 Ready to grab breakfast yet?”
    • “Hey bestie! 👋 I miss you!!”
  2. Step 2 End a text conversation and say goodbye with the 👋 emoji.
    When a text exchange reaches a natural stopping point—or you’re just short on time and need to dash—make it clear that you’re done talking for the moment with the 👋 emoji. Pair it with a light and friendly goodbye message to get your message across.[5]
    • “OMG, time flew by! Gotta say goodbye for now! 👋”
    • “Hey, can I text you later? I’m getting a call from my mom now. 👋”
  3. Step 3 Tell someone mockingly to leave you alone using the 👋 emoji.
    When someone is truly getting on your nerves, use the 👋 emoji to tell them that you want them to go away. You can also use the 👋 emoji to tell someone else about your conflict with this person and describe your feelings about them.
    • “I really didn’t appreciate the way you spoke to me earlier. So, bye. 👋”
    • “My little sister told me I had to let her use my phone. 🙄 Girl, BYE 👋”
    • Remember that a flippant text might upset the other person—so, if you’re worried about their reaction, choose a more neutral message. Otherwise, go ahead and tell them how you really feel.
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Section 3 of 5:

Responding to the Wave 👋 Emoji

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  1. Step 1 Say “hello” back when someone greets you with a 👋 emoji.
    Did your friend start a text conversation with you using a 👋 emoji? There are plenty of easy ways to answer; you could send your own 👋 emoji or give a simple, enthusiastic hello, before responding directly to whatever message they send you.
    • Person 1: “Hi! 👋 Got time to chat?”
      Person 2: “Hey there! 👋 Yeah, of course, what’s up?”
  2. Step 2 Send your own farewell after someone signs off with a 👋 emoji.
    When the person you’re texting tries to end a conversation with a 👋 emoji, you can wave goodbye in return or respond with your version of a goodbye message. You could always make loose plans to talk again later while you’re at it.
    • Person 1: “I need to get some work done now. Talk later? 👋”
      Person 2: “Sure thing! I’ll shoot you a text tomorrow afternoon! 👋”
  3. Step 3 Give them some space if someone sends a sarcastic 👋 emoji.
    If you get a text from someone that’s clearly a bit mocking and essentially says “goodbye” in a sassy, snarky way, the person texting you is probably looking for some space. They want you to know that they’re done talking to you for the moment, and the best way to respond is to simply give them what they need.
    • Person 1: “Whatever, bye 👋”
      Person 2: “Goodbye. If you want to talk out whatever is wrong, you know where to find me.”
    • If you know that you said or did something to upset them, offering an apology might help you mend the relationship.
    • If you don’t know what’s wrong, however, the best way to navigate that might simply be to let them know your door is open if they ever feel like talking things out.
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Section 4 of 5:

Combinations with the 👋 Emoji

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  1. Step 1 Use the 👋 and 🥛 emojis to say “milkshake.”
    Since the hand in the 👋 emoji design could be described as shaking slightly, stringing it together with the glass of milk 🥛 emoji is a fun way to say “milkshake” (🥛👋). You could bring up your favorite milkshake flavors, gush about how much you want one, or invite somebody to grab a delicious milkshake with you using the combo.
    • “Oooooh. Do you know what sounds really good right now? 🥛👋”
    • “I know this place that does the best milkshakes. Wanna go with me sometime? 🥛👋”
    • Alternatively, you can also use the milk bottle 🍼 emoji to write “milkshake.” In that case, the combination would be 🍼👋.
  2. Step 2 Tell someone to wash their hands with the 🦠👋 and 💧 emojis.
    This colorful string of emojis doesn’t directly spell out a word or phrase, but it does make your wishes pretty clear! Send someone the 🦠, 👋, and 💧 emojis when you need them to wash their hands—or, alternatively, when you need to wash your own hands soon.
    • “Wait, did you remember to wash your hands? 🦠👋💧 Remember, you can’t be too careful!”
    • “Ugh, I need to wash my hands so badly. 🦠👋💧 I’m gonna be so uncomfortable until I get home!”
  3. Step 3 Send someone a goodbye kiss with the 👋 and 💋 emojis.
    Since the 👋 emoji can be synonymous with “goodbye,” pairing it with the 💋 emoji can be like giving someone a kiss goodbye. Use this adorable combination when sending goodbye texts to your loved ones, especially a partner or significant other. Let them know how much you care!
    • “Goodbye, babe! 👋💋 I’ll text you again first thing in the morning!”
    • “Bye, my love! 👋💋 Give me a call when you land safely at your destination, okay? ✈️”
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Section 5 of 5:

Other Fun Hand Emojis

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  1. The 👋 emoji isn’t the only hand emoji you can use while texting a pal! Check out the hand emojis below, and click on their links to learn more about them:

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References

  1. ↑ https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/six_tips_for_reading_emotions_in_text_messages
  2. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/more-just-text/201705/emojis-tools-emotions
  3. ↑ https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/six_tips_for_reading_emotions_in_text_messages
  4. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/more-just-text/201705/emojis-tools-emotions
  5. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/more-just-text/201705/emojis-tools-emotions
  6. ↑ https://unicode.org/emoji/charts-12.0/full-emoji-modifiers.html

About This Article

Anyah Le Gilmore-Jones
Reviewed by:
Anyah Le Gilmore-Jones
Social Media Marketing Expert
This article was reviewed by Anyah Le Gilmore-Jones and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Anyah Gilmore-Jones is a Social Media Marketing Expert based in Nashville, Tennessee. An innovative experiential and social media marketer, Anyah is skilled at creating engaging brand experiences and leverages her passion for connecting people and ideas to drive organic growth for purpose-driven brands. As the founder of GROW by Gilmore, a social media strategy company, Anyah develops data-driven social media strategies focused on authentic community building. She has over 4 years of experience spearheading viral campaigns and producing content for brands like HBCU Buzz, Black & Scholared, SHEIN, and Project Art Collective. She received her BA from Howard University in Political Science and Government. This article has been viewed 82,849 times.
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Updated: September 15, 2025
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Categories: Emoticons and Emojis
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