What do 💀, 👍, or 🧢 mean? A Glossary of Gen Z Emojis

Just from the “smiley” in the headline, it’s clear as day that this text was put together by someone over thirty-five. A slightly younger author would probably have used the term “emoticon,” while Generation Z almost exclusively uses “emoji.” And both of them would find the term “smiley” just as outdated as the prehistoric translation “usmíváček” (little smiley) used back in the early days of IT.

These issues with terminology highlight an important detail. Visual communication through emojis, gifs, and even memes has fully infiltrated business language. Similarly to how the term “smiley” has evolved, so have the nuances of their meanings. And many emotions that emojis are supposed to represent are starting to get lost in translation across generations…

Corporate Chats on the Rise

Slack, Teams, WhatsApp… The use of platforms for organizing teams surged globally during the COVID-19 pandemic. What they all have in common is one thing—fast communication via team or channel chats. Abbreviations are a part of everyday conversations as well as important internal announcements, which quickly generate a large number of spontaneous responses (which serve as important study material for bosses, team leaders, HR professionals, or happiness managers who monitor employee satisfaction at work).

It is precisely on these platforms, due to generational differences, that a communication Babylon is gradually taking shape, best demonstrated by differences in emoji usage between generations. This also nicely illustrates how the tone of language itself has changed. Irony and sarcasm in Generation Z are almost a kind of cultural phenomenon. Similarly, formal caution and a desire not to hurt someone’s feelings, or well-hidden passive aggression, are also reflected in language, allowing one to let off steam in a sophisticated way when communicating with superiors.

TOP 10 Emojis That Bosses 35+ Will Always Misread

Thumbs Up! 👍

The classic raised thumb. Great. Well done. At least for the millennial generation and older. For younger generations, however, the meaning shifts. And in an unexpected direction: the positive emoji quickly turns into something bittersweet. So, if a younger colleague sends it to you, it could mean “if you think so,” “do what you want,” or sarcastically “you really pulled that off.”

Example: Thanks for not interrupting me in the meeting today. 👍

Crying Emoji 😭

While most people would use this emoji in response to a sad event, stress, or frustration, for today’s twenty-somethings, it’s actually a symbol of positive emotions, sentimental feelings, or swooning over something cute. In short, it’s an emotional hyperbole at its finest.

Example: Did you see Richard’s dog today? 😭

Sweating Emoji 😅

The older generation would probably use it to describe activities that were physically or mentally exhausting or in a moment of embarrassment. Generation Z uses it when they feel like they’re moments away from a breakdown but don’t show it. In other words, it’s the typical cry for help from the epicenter of a work or personal crisis.

Example: I’m looking forward to another night of editing the presentation. 😅

ROFL Emoji 😂

The most “boomer” emoji. Likely the only one in the repertoire of an older board member who tried to lighten the atmosphere in the #random channel on Slack. Younger colleagues perceive it similarly to how an overacted aunt might awkwardly laugh at a family celebration, ideally at a joke she didn’t understand. In other words, one big WTF. If they use it, it’s typically in the context of the harshest sarcasm.

Example: Robin cracked those internal jokes in the kitchen with the new guy. 😂

Skull 💀

Okay, but what has replaced genuine laughter for Generation Z? The skull. Whether it’s in the sense of killer humor (in a good way) or a joke that makes you die laughing. For the Czech-Slovak region, the best cross-border equivalent is “Zabil!” (Killed it!). A good reason not to add a skull to your messages or posts as a symbol of bravery or toughness when chatting with younger colleagues.

Example: Did you see the new Mykír? 💀

Poop Emoji with Eyes 💩

The older generation will likely split into two groups. Those for whom this is too much, and those for whom poop with eyes is a fun emoji rebellion. For thirty-somethings, the meaning is clear—when something goes wrong, lacks quality, or the situation is generally a mess, this emoji belongs to it. Generation Z uses it wherever they want to comment on immaturity or childishness.

Example: How today on Women’s Day, the boss mainly talked about himself… 💩

Baseball Cap 🧢

The blue baseball cap, which you probably didn’t even know existed in your emoji set, signifies a denied lie. This symbol likely originated from the 2020 presidential elections when it served as a dissenting reaction to President Trump’s claims about stolen elections. The blue cap, as opposed to the red “Make America Great Again” one, became a universal symbol of resistance against fake news and falsehoods.

Example: Did you see those numbers the competition put in their press release? 🧢

Gritted Teeth 😬

The older generation would probably use this in response to their own failure or when something was really close. For Gen Z, it’s a symbol of “cringe”—that is, awkwardness. It typically expresses a mixture of disappointment and unpleasant surprise at the behavior of someone from whom we didn’t expect it.

Example: That press conference after the new president was elected… 😬

Clown 🤡

A symbol for funny situations or silly blunders. Younger generations, however, have shifted its meaning toward a criticism of stupid behavior, most often in relation to older generations. So, if they add this emoji to a comment directed at a superior, it definitely doesn’t mean anything kind.

Example: How did you like today’s new format of Peter’s all-hands? 🤡

Checkmark ✅

An emoji commonly used when we want to show that we’ve read a colleague’s message or agree with the suggested approach. However, it’s not used by younger generations, and if they do, it’s often as a symbol of excessive authority and dictatorship.

Example: The meeting before the holiday will be ✅