- Respect, obedience or sarcasm: three ways 🫡 lands
- From o7 to 🫡: the gamer salute that came first
- Unicode 14.0 and the 2019 proposal behind it
- Why Apple's design shows only half a face
- The 2022 layoff salute on Twitter, now X
- Salute replies at work, with friends and in gaming
- Made-up salute messages
- When I'd use the salute with clients
- Frequently asked questions
The salute emoji 🫡 means respect, a 'yes, sir' or 'on it', and very often a sarcastic version of that same obedience. Its official Unicode name is Saluting Face, and it was approved in Unicode 14.0 in 2021, which makes it far newer than most face emojis. The catch: it became famous in 2022 as a farewell from staff losing their jobs, so in some chats it reads as goodbye rather than respect.
The salute is a small emoji with a lot of moods. It can be a sincere thank you to someone in uniform, a cheerful 'will do' to your manager or a deadpan 'yes, your majesty' to a bossy friend. It's also become a way to sign off for good. Here's how to tell which one you're looking at.
Respect, obedience or sarcasm: three ways 🫡 lands
Dictionary.com says the Saluting Face, often just called the salute emoji, shows a face with a hand raised in salute. It's sometimes used straightforwardly about a military salute, but more generally it shows respect and obedience, or it's used sarcastically to fake both. Emojipedia describes it simply as a sign of respect.
- Sincere respect: 'To every nurse working tonight 🫡'
- Cheerful obedience: 'Got it, I'll send it by five 🫡'
- Sarcasm: someone being bossed around and playing along with a mock 'yes, sir'
Dictionary.com quotes one person saluting a stranger for chasing an ice cream van in his socks, which shows the playful side well: it's admiration with a wink. When you can't tell which mood you've got, look at what came just before it.
From o7 to 🫡: the gamer salute that came first
Long before there was an emoji, gamers typed it. Emojipedia says the Saluting Face can be seen as an emoji version of the o7 emoticon, where the 'o' is a head and the '7' is a raised arm in salute. Wiktionary defines o7 as an emoticon representing a person saluting and lists 🫡 as its synonym.
Emojipedia notes that variants of o7 are still popular in gaming communities and on live streaming sites. So if a teammate types o7 or 🫡 at the end of a match, it's a respectful 'good game' or a farewell before they log off, especially after a brave sacrifice in the game.
Unicode 14.0 and the 2019 proposal behind it
Dictionary.com says the Saluting Face was proposed in 2019 by Jennifer Daniel and Shiraz Fuman, and that the proposal described a saluting face as one of the most popularly requested emojis for several years. Interestingly, the proposal suggested it could also be read as a face shielding its eyes from the sun, not only as a salute.
Emojipedia lists Saluting Face as approved in Unicode 14.0 in 2021 and added to Emoji 14.0 the same year. That's why older phones that haven't been updated may show an empty box instead of the face.
Why Apple's design shows only half a face
Emojipedia points out that the face's expression varies by platform, from neutral to smiling. It also notes that Apple's design shows only half a face, likely so the saluting hand stands out when the emoji's viewed at small sizes. On Google, Dictionary.com says it's a yellow face with a yellow right hand raised in salute. If your friend's version looks cheekier or more serious than yours, that's the reason.
The 2022 layoff salute on Twitter, now X
Emojipedia says this emoji went viral on Twitter in late 2022, after news that the platform would sharply cut its staff following its takeover. Dictionary.com adds that it was reported as a sign of solidarity among people being let go at several big tech companies, used in internal chats and public posts to say goodbye.
That history matters. In a work chat, a lone 🫡 posted after an announcement can mean 'it's been an honour, I'm off'. It's a dignified exit, often with a little dark humour in it. It's also why some people now feel a salute after bad news is a bit cold, so think about who'll read it before you send one.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Salute replies at work, with friends and in gaming
| Situation | What 🫡 usually means | Tone |
|---|---|---|
| Your manager assigns a task | On it, consider it done | Friendly, can be playful |
| A friend gives you bossy instructions | Yes, sir, mock obedience | Sarcastic |
| A post about frontline workers or veterans | Respect and thanks | Sincere |
| End of an online game | Good game, or farewell | Respectful |
| Someone's last day or a layoff post | Goodbye with dignity | Bittersweet |
| Someone did something daft but brave | I salute you | Admiring and funny |
Made-up salute messages
These are made-up messages to show how it's used, not real chats:
- 'Can you have the report ready by EOD?' 'Yes boss 🫡' A cheerful confirmation. If you're unsure what that deadline means, here's what EOD means at work.
- 'Mum says you're doing the dishes tonight.' '🫡' Playing along, with a pinch of sarcasm.
- 'Today's my last day here, thanks for everything 🫡' A respectful goodbye.
- 'He ate the whole spicy wing challenge 🫡' Admiration for a brave, silly act.
- 'o7 see you all tomorrow' A gamer signing off.
When I'd use the salute with clients
I like the salute in team chats. It's a quick, upbeat way to say 'got it' without another message, and in tools where you can react to a message it works well as a reaction. If your team chat lets you add reactions or custom emoji, here's how to add an emoji in a work chat app.
With clients, I'd be more careful. A salute can look sarcastic if they've just asked for a big change, as if you're rolling your eyes. I'd also avoid it on a brand account around any layoff news, given its 2022 history. If the moment's serious, write the words: 'Thanks, I'm on it.'
Frequently asked questions
What does 🫡 mean in a text?
It usually means respect or 'on it', and it's often used sarcastically to fake obedience, as Dictionary.com notes.
What is the official name of the salute emoji?
Its official Unicode name is Saluting Face. Emojipedia says it was approved in Unicode 14.0 in 2021.
What does o7 mean?
o7 is an older emoticon of a person saluting, where the o is a head and the 7 is a raised arm. It's still common in gaming.
Why did the salute emoji go viral in 2022?
Emojipedia says it spread across Twitter in late 2022 as staff used it to say goodbye during big layoffs.
Is the salute emoji rude?
Not usually, but it can read as sarcastic. With clients or after a hard request, use words instead.
