01 · A comforting hug
People Hugging
Two figures holding each other. It was added in 2020 for comfort and support, and it is the right hug for bad news.
I am so sorry, thinking of you 🫂
Emoji for a hug
The best hug emoji
There are two hug emoji, and they mean different things. 🫂 is two people holding each other, the hug you send when someone is hurting. 🤗 is a face with open hands, the cheerful hug you send to say hello or thank you. The rest of this page adds warmth around them.
🫂 🤗 🥰 🧸 🤍 🫶
Quick answer
Which emoji should you use?
Use 🫂 for a comforting hug, 🤗 for a friendly or grateful one, 🥰 for an affectionate hug, and 🧸 for a soft, cuddly one. Both hug emoji work on iPhone, Android and WhatsApp.
Top picks
6 emoji for a hug
02 · A friendly hug
Hugging Face
A smiling face with open hands. It is warm and upbeat, for hello, thanks and good news, and it can look too cheerful after something sad.
Thank you so much for today 🤗
03 · An affectionate hug
Smiling Face with Hearts
A smile surrounded by hearts. It feels like being held by someone who loves you, and it suits family, partners and close friends.
Miss you, see you Sunday 🥰
04 · A soft, cuddly hug
Teddy Bear
A teddy bear. It is gentle and a little childlike, which makes it useful when someone is ill or low.
Get some rest, sending cuddles 🧸
05 · Quiet support
White Heart
A white heart. Next to 🫂 it adds calm, which fits grief and difficult days better than a red heart.
Here for you, always 🫂🤍
06 · Love from far away
Heart Hands
Two hands making a heart. It sends affection across a distance, a hug when you cannot give one in person.
Wish I could be there, sending all of this 🫶
At a glance
Compare hug emoji
The same message can feel quiet, affectionate, playful or intense depending on the symbol. Use this quick comparison before you copy one.
| Emoji | Name | Best for | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🫂 | People Hugging | A comforting hug | I am so sorry, thinking of you 🫂 |
| 🤗 | Hugging Face | A friendly hug | Thank you so much for today 🤗 |
| 🥰 | Smiling Face with Hearts | An affectionate hug | Miss you, see you Sunday 🥰 |
| 🧸 | Teddy Bear | A soft, cuddly hug | Get some rest, sending cuddles 🧸 |
| 🤍 | White Heart | Quiet support | Here for you, always 🫂🤍 |
| 🫶 | Heart Hands | Love from far away | Wish I could be there, sending all of this 🫶 |
Ready to send
Message ideas to copy
Sending the biggest hug 🫂
So good to see you today 🤗
Thinking of you, love you 🫂🤍
Turn up the tone
Emoji combinations for a hug
Two emoji can blend different shades of the message. Keep the pair short so it still feels intentional and easy to read.
🫂🤗
People Hugging + Hugging Face
Combine a comforting hug with a friendly hug when one symbol does not quite carry the whole tone.
🥰🧸
Smiling Face with Hearts + Teddy Bear
Combine an affectionate hug with a soft, cuddly hug when one symbol does not quite carry the whole tone.
🤍🫶
White Heart + Heart Hands
Combine quiet support with love from far away when one symbol does not quite carry the whole tone.
Tone check
Match the emoji to the moment
Comfort or cheer
🫂 comforts and 🤗 cheers. Sending 🤗 after sad news can look breezy, so switch to 🫂 when someone is upset.
Add one word
"Hug 🫂" or "sending a hug 🫂" leaves no doubt about what the picture means, which helps on older phones where 🫂 might not display.
Hug emoji on WhatsApp and iPhone
Both hug emoji are on every current keyboard. Search the emoji picker for hug, or type the word on iPhone and Android to get it suggested.
Make it land
How to write the message
Say it in words first
Write the part you need the reader to understand even if the emoji fails to render. This matters most in emotional, professional and unfamiliar conversations.
Choose the emotional volume
Start with 🫂 for a comforting hug, or choose 🫶 when love from far away fits better.
Read it once without context
Check whether a stranger could mistake the reaction for sarcasm, romance or a joke. Add one clarifying phrase when the relationship alone does not explain the tone.
Where you send it
Texts, work chats and public posts
Texts and DMs
Familiar conversations can carry more nuance. Match the emoji the other person already uses, and let your shared history do some of the work.
Work and group chats
Choose the clearest, least ambiguous option and place it after a complete sentence. One emoji usually gives enough tone without distracting from the information.
Captions and comments
Public posts have less relationship context, so readers may interpret a symbol more broadly. Use the caption to establish who or what the reaction is about.
Avoid a mixed signal
One thing to watch for
Let the words carry the meaning
A hug emoji is a kind reply, but when someone shares something serious it works best alongside words. Ask how they are, then send the hug.
Emoji artwork also changes between Apple, Google, Samsung and other platforms. Small differences in the eyes, mouth, colour or gesture can shift the emotional reading, so a symbol that looks gentle on your phone may look stronger on someone else’s device.
Common questions
About hug emoji
What is the hug emoji?
There are two. 🫂, people hugging, is the comforting one. 🤗, the hugging face, is the friendly and cheerful one.
How do I get the hug emoji on iPhone or WhatsApp?
Open the emoji keyboard and search for hug. Both 🫂 and 🤗 come up on iPhone, Android and WhatsApp, which uses your phone's emoji.
What is the difference between 🫂 and 🤗?
🫂 is two people holding each other, used for comfort and support. 🤗 is a smiling face with open hands, used for hellos, thanks and good news.
Keep choosing
Related emoji guides
Support emojiUse 🫶 to send care, 🤗 for a virtual hug, 💙 for steady solidarity, and 💪 when you want to encourage strength and persistence.Read guideSympathy emojiUse 🤍 for gentle remembrance, 🕯️ for mourning or memorials, 💙 for steady support, and 🫶 to send personal care. Always include a few sincere words.Read guideFriendship emoji🫶 is the safest warm option, because a gesture carries no colour to interpret. 💜 is the standard platonic heart, 🤝 is deliberately neutral, and 🤗 offers comfort without implying anything else.Read guide
Emoji can render differently across devices and their meaning changes with culture, relationship and context. When the message matters, let clear words lead.