?? Fireworks: Assuming Katy Perry hasn’t ruined fireworks for you (just me?), this is another good substitute for “I just came.” (For the record: Orgasms don’t just feel good, they’re healthy.)
????Hand Emojis: Alone, each of these hand emojis is quite G-rated but put them together, and you have the most obvious P-in-V sex emoji. If you’re looking for something honest and straightforward, this is your move.
?? Hammer: The fact that the hammer has become slang for a big schlong isn’t surprising. (But, I’m just gonna say it, this ish can be pretty misogynistic, so please save this one for woke penis-owners who won’t treat you like a nail.)
?? Lollipop: This swirly treat is a stand-in for another kind of swirly treat. Confused? Think about the lyrics of your favorite (and teacher’s least favorite) middle school bop, “She licked me like a lollipop.”
??Nail: Maybe you and your partner are exploring power play and you’re expressing your desire to be (consensually!) dominated the way a hammer sees a nail. Regardless, when paired with the hammer, this unassuming icon paints quite the picture.
Urban dictionary, your dirty-minded bestie planetromeo, and a stack of erotic reads may come in handy when your mind goes blank mid-sexting
?? Peace Sign: Sorry to turn the universal symbol of peace, love, and happiness into a sex emoji. But look at it! That “V” shape is very, um, vaginal.
?? Peach: Behold: The most euphemistic emoji on deck. Long-used as code for a butt by fitfluencers, this juicy icon deserves a place in your chat.
?? Pinched Finger: Italian-gesticulation hand? No way. This e-x-a-c-t shape your hand makes while fisting someone! It’s almost like the designers were trying to encourage us to celebrate the pleasure-potential of multi-finger finger-banging!
?? Scissors: Obviously, this is a not-so-subtle nod to the oh-so-pleasurable genital-on-genital sex position “scissoring.” Pro tip: Whether you’re URL or IRL scissoring, use ??(keep scrolling; that’s code for lube).
?? Serpent: Catholic school kids, you’ll love this one. Remember when Adam’s serpent (read: penis) slithered into Eve’s garden (read: vagina). Welp, now you can say all that without, you know, actually saying it.
?? String of Beads: Pair this string of beads with the peach to clue your mate what toy you’re bringing with you next time you meet up IRL. (Hint: anal beads.)
?? Taco: As much as I hate that taco has become a euphemism for vagina, (I mean, minced meat sandwich, really??), to my chagrin this emoji admittedly does serve helpful when it comes to talking about taco eating. (Yes, that’s code for cunnilingus, aka oral sex for vulvas).
?? Tongue: Tasting, teasing, tongue-touching, tonsil-hockey. The tongue-emoji is a bit of a choose your own R-rated adventure. So, choose the emoji(s) you pair this with wisely. It’d be a bummer to pair it with a peach when you really meant to pair it with a taco.
Those little cartoon diddly doos have a place in your R-rated convos, according to clinical sexologist Megan Stubbs, Ed
?? Water Droplet: Lube. This is the lube emoji. No ifs, ands, or buts – I don’t make the rules. (Related: Everything You Need to Know About Lube)
?? Water Emoji: Water is wet. Send this emoji and mid-convo and you’re asking your boo, “You know what else is wet? My taco.” (That said, a friendly reminder that wetness is not always equivalent with arousal! You could be hella turned on and still require a bit of ??.)
That’s right. D., who is a big proponent of emoji-use during steamy chats. “Sexting is another way to add pleasure and play to your sexual repertoire,” she says. “And using emojis while you sext puts an emphasis on the playful part.”