Skull Emoji Meaning: How to Interpret and Use 💀

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Plus, how to respond and react to the skeleton emoji
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Wondering what it means if someone sends you a 💀? We’re here to give you the scoop on what the skull emoji means in texting and online. We’ll even cover how to respond to the 💀 (skull) emoji and explain how it differs from the ☠️ (skull-and-crossbones) emoji. Read on for everything you need to know about the 💀 (skull) emoji!

💀 Meaning

The 💀 skull emoji usually describes a metaphorical death online and over text. So, when someone sends you the 💀 skull emoji, it typically means, “I'm dead,” either from laughter, amazement, embarrassment, or boredom. It can also represent death or goth culture.

  • The 💀 (skull) emoji is a grayish-white skeleton head.
  • The Unicode for the 💀 (skull) emoji is U+1F480.
Section 1 of 4:

💀 Skull Emoji Meanings

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  1. Step 1 "This is so funny that I died."
    Use the 💀 (skull) emoji on a funny photo, in response to a funny text, or in a comment on a funny video. You can either send this emoji on its own, with a 😂 (laughing emoji), or even directly after “I’m dying” to emphasize the meaning.[1]
    • “My dog just farted and then looked scared, like he didn’t know where the sound came from. 💀😂”
    • “I’m literally dying 💀💀 That video’s hilarious!”
  2. Step 2 "This is so beautiful that I died."
    Use this emoji in a text, comment, or DM to tell someone that you think they look attractive. Or, in response to something cute (like a photo of a kitten), include a 💀 (skull) to say that you think the photo is super cute.
    • “OMG, gorgeous. 💀💀”
    • “This is your best angle 💀💀💀”
    • “This. Is. Too. Cute 💀😍”
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  3. Step 3 "I am so embarrassed or annoyed."
    Use the 💀 (skull) emoji in a text to show that you’re “dying” of embarrassment, frustration, or boredom. Maybe you have a ton of homework to finish, or perhaps something truly cringey happened. Pair a statement with a 💀 (skull) emoji to say, “I died of embarrassment” or “I’m dying of boredom.”
    • “I literally have like 50 pages of history reading to do tonight 💀”
    • “I tripped in front of Zach this morning 💀”
    • “This cold is so bad. My throat feels like sandpaper 💀💀”
  4. Step 4 “Dead.”
    While the majority of the time, the 💀 (skull) emoji is used metaphorically, it can also be used literally. This skeleton emoji can represent death in the right contexts. For instance, someone may use a 💀 (skull) when talking about goth culture, Halloween, something scary, or the passing of a loved one.
    • “I’m so ready for spooky season! 💀🎃”
    • “I can’t believe she’s gone. 💀I loved her movies.”
    • “RIP 💀🥀”
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Section 2 of 4:

How to Respond to the 💀 (Skull) Emoji

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  1. Step 1 Laugh along with the sender over text.
    If someone sends you the 💀 (skull) emoji in a funny text, let them know that you found their message hilarious. Send a laughing emoji, an "lol," or your own 💀 to let them know you enjoyed the joke.[2]
    • "Hahahah 😂 That's so funny!!"
    • "I'm dyinggggg 💀💀. That's actually straight up hilarious."
    • "Lol!! I'm genuinely laughing out loud rn 🤣"
  2. Step 2 Gush over the photo or video sent to you.
    If someone sends you a cute (or hot!) photo, let them know that you liked it just as much as they did. For bonus points, send ❤️ (heart) and 😍 (smiling face with heart-eyes) emojis along with your message.[3]
    • "I love Ana De Armas. She is SO hot! 😍😍"
    • "This is the cutest thing I've ever seen. You always send the best baby animal pics 🐇❤️"
    • "You look absolutely stunning!! You, my friend, are serving an absolute LOOK. 🙈🥰 "
  3. Step 3 Send a sympathetic text and offer support.
    If your friend sends a 💀 (skull) to describe feeling "dead," let them know that you have their back. Commiserate with their situation, offer them an ear, or validate their feelings.[4]
    • "Yoooo that does sound awful. I'm so sorry. 😿"
    • "Wow, that's brutal. You know I'm here for you, right? Let me know if you need to talk. 😇"
    • "Jeez! Yeah, I'd be frustrated, too. Those feelings totally make sense. 🤯"
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Section 3 of 4:

💀 (Skull) Emoji vs. the ☠️ (Skull-and-Crossbones) Emoji

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  1. The ☠️ (skull-and-crossbones) emoji is typically used literally, not metaphorically.
    Unlike the 💀 (skull) emoji, the ☠️ (skull-and-crossbones) emoji is generally used when discussing death, danger, or bones in a literal sense. You can send either emoji for the spooky things; it just depends on your personal preference.[5]
    • “Have you decided what you’re going to be for Halloween yet? I like your fairy idea, but your skeleton costume is still cooler. ☠️”
    • “Oh my god, this video was so terrifying. Did anyone else expect that jump scare at the end? 💀"
    • “RIP to the goldest goldfish I’ve ever had. I’ll miss you, buddy. Hope you’re still swimming circles in fishy heaven 💀😥☠️”
Section 4 of 4:

Other Emoji Meanings

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  1. Want to know what other emojis mean? Check out these guides to common emojis and how people use them over text and online, so you know exactly which emoji to send to express any emotion.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Does it mean I am dead?
    Clarissa
    Clarissa
    Community Answer
    It depends on the meaning you are using the skull emoji for. It may mean death, but in other cases it doesn't.
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    Not Helpful 7 Helpful 48
  • Question
    What does this emoji message mean? He gonna be 😴🐟🐟🐟
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    The message is "He's going to be sleeping with the fishes". It means he is going to get killed.
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    Not Helpful 12 Helpful 37
  • Question
    What do these emojis mean? 🛌🐴
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    They mean "horse head in the bed". It's a reference to the iconic movie "The Godfather".
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.dictionary.com/e/gen-z-explains-emoji-to-millennials/
  2. ↑ https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1672756/FULLTEXT01.pdf
  3. ↑ https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1672756/FULLTEXT01.pdf
  4. ↑ https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1672756/FULLTEXT01.pdf
  5. ↑ https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skull+and+crossbones

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 391,271 times.
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Updated: September 17, 2025
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