In the same way that sending different colored flowers has various meanings, the color of the heart emojis you send can convey certain messages, too. While there's no universal translation of what each color heart emoji means, here are some general guidelines and tips as to what exactly that yellow heart means when you send it to bae—or anyone else for that matter.
(Oh, and a disclaimer: this is not to impede on any inside jokes or meanings you and your friends might have, or any health reasons behind certain-colored hearts. As always context is king, but if you’re just curious if you’re reading too into—or not into enough—a cryptic text or Insta comment, here you go.)
Red Heart
While classically considered the most romantic heart, it's also the most basic. It's impressive only the first time you send or receive it. If a new partner is sending this to you, yes, it's a statement, but if you've been dating for a few years and this is all you're getting—they need to step it up.
This can also be considered a timeless, platonic-love, support emoji, acceptable to send and receive from anyone during times of grief or loss to show support.
Good for: The honeymoon phase of a new relationship, showing a platonic friend support.
Bad for: Following up after a first date.
Orange Heart
This is the coward's red heart. Usually deployed by male partners whose fingers hover over the red heart, but ultimately decide to send a non-committal version instead. It's too close to the red heart to be an accident, and too random of a color otherwise to mean anything else.
Good for: Bullshit situationships.
Bad for: Anything beyond that.
Yellow Heart
This is a very Gentle™? energy, most likely to be used in a familial relationship, friendship, or a romantic thing that's moving into friendship territory. This emoji sees most action around Mother's Day, conversations with your grandma, and other friendly and supportive figures.
Good for: New relationships where you want to show affection without fear of coming on too strong; family.
Bad for: Anyone you've ever seen naked or would like to eventually see naked.
Green Heart
A braggadocios heart. Your friend who volunteers uses this a lot. Despite being literally green, it doesn't have to do with any environmental subtext, though the overlap of people who do good and love the environment is heavy.
This tends to speak more on the sender's behalf than any relationship the sender has with the receiver. You're likely to get this tacked onto the end of a "Hey, I know we haven't spoken in a while, but—" text.
Good for: Acquaintances, people you know through mutual friends, junior varsity friends.
Bad for: Anyone you wouldn't accept on LinkedIn.
Blue Heart
Blue hearts have Bro energy. Something about the classic collegiate tone of a royal blue is extremely, "What's better than this? Just guys being dudes."
This isn't because blue is a gendered thing, but more because the blue heart implies a sort of shallow friendship. You don't send a blue heart to anyone you trust with your emotional baggage. You send it to the homies you see once a month, or that girl you promise you'll get brunch with "one of these days."
Good for: Group chats when you have nothing to add, texting your parents when they check in, randos who DM you on Instagram in a non-sexual context.
Bad for: Eh, it's hard to misuse this one, TBH.
Purple Heart
For those in the know, the purple heart is considered a horny emoji.
Alternatively, if you see this cropping up in a family group chat, it could be related to being in service of the country.
The two wildly different translations mean that the purple heart is chaotic. Use at your own risk.
Good for: Shamelessly booty calling someone, a FWB situation.
Bad for: Anyone whose parents you've met.
Black Heart
Most often used ironically, the black heart is a symbol of deep, embarrassing, romantic love. Like wow, you could completely crush my hopes and dreams in a millisecond because my heart is in your hands and that makes me feel not at ease at all! But it's exciting!
Good for: Your soulmate, your twin flame.
Bad for: Someone you're very casually dating.
Broken Heart
Again, most often used ironically in a "I'm just giving you shit" way. To deploy a broken heart emoji in a serious context is a little cringe-worthy, as it could be seen as trying to milk guilt out of someone (and a phone call is much better for that type of situation).
Good for: Giving your partner a hard time if they disappoint you (but a disappointment you'll obviously live through—you just don't want to let them off the hook quite yet).
Bad for: Truly expressing a broken heart or shattered expectations.
Heart Exclamation Point
A fun, manic-energy heart with uber versatile application. Sprinkle this in with a casual or newish boyfriend whom you love (but aren't quite in love with yet), friends, family—it's all good!
The excitement and giddiness of the exclamation point heart implies that you genuinely like the other person's company and are super excited to see them. There's an immediacy to this emoji that makes it perfect to toss in when confirming plans.
Good for: Telling someone your ETA when you're meeting up, signing off a "catching up" session, setting date plans in place.
Bad for: Serious talks.
Two Static Pink Hearts
Two static pink hearts are super flirtatious. This is a good entry-level emoji to throw into the mix when you start dating someone.
They also have great BFF energy. Very "you and I until the end of time and no one understands us" vibes.
Good for: Dating someone new you're v. into, flirty DM slides, the constant jibberjabber between you and your BFF.
Bad for: Someone you're about to break up with, or anyone you can sense is into you more than you are them. Rip that Band-aid off.
Orbiting Pink Hearts
This is the Mind-Meld heart—aka when you and someone else are on the same level about something and jinx each other.
Good for: Having a heavy talk via text, accepting an apology, forgiving someone, apologizing to someone yourself.
Bad for: Platonic friendships. Just send a red heart, omg.
Vibrating Pink Heart
You're vibing, you appreciate the other person, and likely one of you just went on an emotional ledge (with good results)!
This is a really good apology heart, no matter what end of the apology you're on. It's basically saying, "All is forgiven," or "I understand and still accept you as you are."
Good for: Apologies, confessions of love, crushes.
Bad for: Platonic friendships. It's just like a weird half measure when a true, red heart will do just as well.
Pink Heart Growing in Size
Are you literally the Grinch? Because that is the only acceptable situation in which to use this. Some emoji scholars interpret this as a beating heart, and therefore, a complimentary emoji to send and receive. But unfortunately, they are wrong.
Good for: An apology tour after terrorizing Whoville.
Bad for: EVERY OTHER CONTEXT.
Sparkle Heart
This is like the Neutral Good of heart emojis. It's playful, cute, and twee enough that it doesn't necessarily have heavy romantic implications. You can use this in pretty much any conversation to foster a sense of "I appreciate you" without being put on an emotional ledge.
Good for: Anything, honestly.
Bad for: Again, hard to go wrong here.
Heart With Arrow Through It
As one of the lesser-used symbols within the heart emoji taxonomy, seeing one of these means you kind of have to read into the meaning of it. Therefore, send with caution, as it likely will be scrutinized by the receiver.
While traditionalists would believe it's just a symbol of new love, the reality is that there are so many other heart emojis to symbolize new love, that this one gets forgotten about.
Good for: Your long-term S.O. of several years where truly nothing is new anymore.
Bad for: That platonic friend you've always thought was kind of cute.
Pink Heart Wrapped With Ribbon
You're whipped, and you know it! It's the unironic "my heart is yours for the taking" emoji. Really hard to justify this in any non-romantic relationship.
Good for: If you're totally smitten with someone and they are, too.
Bad for: If you're not on an equal footing in this situationship.
Purple Text Box Heart
Unacceptable, full stop. There are so many more to choose from.
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This article originally appeared on Cosmopolitan.com. Minor edits have been made by the Cosmo.ph editors.
