👋 Waving Hand

👋 Waving Hand works at both ends of a conversation. It is the standard opener in a new group chat and the standard way to leave one. It is also the emoji of choice for announcing a departure – from a job, a city or a project.

Friendly and neutral. Available in five skin tones.

• 👋 Hi everyone
• Last day today 👋

Waving in greeting is close to universal, but the emoji has picked up a second, newer meaning: since around 2015, 👋 on social media marks leaving a group or a conversation – often pointedly, in the sense of “I’m out”.

In Japan the wave is made palm outward with a moving hand; the Western version with stiff fingers can be misread there as beckoning. In Greece the open palm shown to another person, the moutza, is outright offensive.

• 👋✋ – Waving Hand and Raised Hand
• 👋🖐️ – Waving Hand with Hand with Fingers Splayed
• 👋🤚 – Waving Hand plus Raised Back of Hand
• 👋🫱 – Waving Hand and Rightwards Hand
• 👋🫲 – Waving Hand with Leftwards Hand
• 👋🖖 – Waving Hand plus Vulcan Salute

Easy to mix up with ✋ Raised Hand, 🖐️ Hand with Fingers Splayed or 🤚 Raised Back of Hand. They look alike but do not mean the same thing – when in doubt, check the name.