Do you know what these emojis really mean? Popular characters have VERY different meanings in different cultures and countries – take the test to see if you’re interpreting them correctly

Whether it’s a cheeky eggplant or a friendly smiley, emojis have become a staple in many of our everyday conversations these days.

However, experts have discovered that several popular characters have very different meanings in other cultures and countries.

From the seemingly innocent ‘hotel’ to the enigmatic ‘horned sign’, you’d be surprised at how common emojis are interpreted around the world.

Noël Wolf, a linguist at language platform Babbel, told MailOnline: ‘People can attach all sorts of different meanings to these little pictures.’

Do you know what these common emojis really mean? Scroll down for the answers!

Sign of the horns

If you’re a rock fan, you probably know what the ‘horns’ hand sign stands for.

Although its exact origins are debated, the gesture has become synonymous with rock and metal since Black Sabbath popularized the sign in the 1970s and 1980s.

However, in many parts of the world, extending your index and pinky fingers can have a very different meaning.

Ms Wolf says: ‘In some Mediterranean and Spanish-speaking countries, including Italy, Portugal and Mexico, this gesture, addressed to an individual, can be perceived as if someone were a cheated-on spouse.

‘This has linguistic roots, because the words used in the languages ​​of these countries for someone who has been cheated on are linguistically linked to the word for horns, such as the word “cornuto” in Italian.’

Although this emoji is more commonly associated with rock and metal, it has a completely different meaning in some parts of the Mediterranean

Steam

While cultural misunderstandings can often be embarrassing, some common emoji misuses are actually quite harmless.

For example, the icon with red, wavy red lines coming up from a circle seems like a confusing choice.

But in Japan, the meaning of this commonly used emoji would be instantly recognizable.

This symbol may seem very strange, but for people in Japan this would be a symbol they would find on many maps

Ms. Wolf says: ‘Because emoji originated in Japan, where they were invented in the late 1990s by Shigetaka Kurita, some of the icons represent objects or concepts from Japanese culture.’

This strange emoji actually represents the steam rising from an onsen, a traditional Japanese hot spring bath.

In Japan, the symbol is used on maps to indicate the locations of popular public bathhouses.

Swirl

This oddly shaped swirl is another emoji that would look very familiar to a Japanese user

Another emoji with a distinctly Japanese origin and meaning is the spinning pink and white circle.

Although this symbol may not be as familiar to many people in the West, it is a regular part of the meal for many Japanese.

This emoji represents the narutomaki, a type of fish cake with a distinctive swirl pattern.

This emoji is a popular topping for ramen and is often used to indicate “food” or a meal.

Love hotel

While this may look like a cheerful pink hospital, the real meaning of this Japanese emoji is much less innocent

However, not all Japanese emojis that are often misused have such innocent meanings.

A striking example is the bright pink emoji for ‘love hotel’.

Depending on your device, this emoji will appear as a large pink building with either a heart or the letter “H” on the front.

Because of this, many people mistakenly think that this symbol represents a hospital or that it means ‘get well soon’.

However, this symbol represents a type of hotel that can be rented by the hour.

In Japan, these “love hotels” are a much-recognized cultural reference that is missed by many foreign emoji users.

Person showing his hand

Older users might think this symbolizes someone raising their hand to offer help, but younger users know this isn’t always the case

While the meaning of emojis varies from place to place, they can also change significantly depending on the age of the users.

For example, the emoji for “person shaking hands” may sound more familiar to older users as a sign for an assistant or helpful person.

Ms Wolf explains: ‘Originally it was intended to represent a person working at an information desk, but in 2010 it was approved as part of the Unicode Standard under the name “information desk person”.’

However, over time, the meaning of this emoji has changed through usage and has taken on a completely different meaning.

Younger technology users may be more likely to recognize the symbol as a sign of rudeness or sarcasm, as it resembles someone who has just flipped their hair over their shoulder.

Tea

The symbol for tea may be very familiar to people all over the world, but this emoji actually has a second meaning that first appeared in America’s black drag community

British readers might mistakenly think that there is only one possible way to understand ‘tea’.

However, over the years and in different cultures, this simple symbol has taken on a completely different meaning.

To many people, tea now means ‘gossip’ or truth, as in the expression ‘to spill the tea’, which can mean to tell a secret or to tell the truth.

Although the term is now widely used by Generation Z, its origins actually lie within the black drag queen community in America.

The term is still used in gay culture, but thanks to the popularity of shows like Ru Paul’s Drag Race, the term has spread widely through social media.

And as this new meaning caught on, the humble “tea” emoji also began to take on the same meaning.

Ms. Wolf writes: “Some of the unexpected double meanings amplified on social media can be bewildering to older generations who are not up to date on the latest developments on these platforms.”

The true meaning of emoji

Do you know the hidden meanings of these popular emojis?

1. Love Hotel

Although often mistaken for a hospital, it is a ‘love hotel’ that couples can rent by the hour.

2. Person showing his hand

Originally this word was intended to refer to an information desk clerk, but now it is used to imply sarcasm or rudeness.

3. Vertebra

This symbol represents the Japanese narutomaki, a type of fish cake with a distinctive pink swirl.

4. Tea

Tea is used to indicate gossip or scandal, as in the expression ‘mors the tea’, meaning ‘to tell a secret’.

5. Rising steam

This strange mark is used on Japanese maps to indicate the location of hot springs, called onsens

6. Sign of the horns

Most often this word is used to symbolize rock or metal music, but in some Mediterranean countries and Spanish-speaking countries it is used to call someone a cuckold, someone whose partner is unfaithful.