Rightwards Thumb Sign Emoji

The Rightwards Thumb Sign emoji 🫺 shows a thumb pointing sideways to the right. It is used to point toward something on the right, indicate a direction, or signal a so-so, undecided, or "meh" attitude. It was introduced in Unicode 18.0 and Emoji 18.0 as part of the People & Body category.

What Does the Rightwards Thumb Sign Emoji Mean?

The Rightwards Thumb Sign emoji 🫺 depicts a hand with the thumb extended horizontally toward the right, and it carries two main meanings: a literal direction and a lukewarm opinion.

The directional reading is the most straightforward. The thumb aims right, so the emoji works like a small arrow that says "over there" or "that way." It can point at a name, a link, a photo, or any element positioned to the right of your message.

The second reading comes from real-world gesture language. A thumb held sideways rather than straight up is a common way of saying "so-so," "maybe," or "I could go either way." The emoji borrows that feeling, which is why its search keywords include so-so, undecided, and meh.

Because the emoji is new, its conventions are still forming. Expect meaning to be settled largely by context, with the surrounding words doing most of the work in the early days.

What Are the Technical Details of the Rightwards Thumb Sign Emoji?

The Rightwards Thumb Sign emoji uses the single codepoint U+1FAFA and belongs to Unicode 18.0 and Emoji 18.0.

• Official Unicode name: RIGHTWARDS THUMB SIGN
• Codepoint: U+1FAFA
• Shortcode: :rightwards_thumb_sign:
• Category: People & Body
• Skin tone support: Yes

Because it sits in the People & Body group, it is a hand gesture emoji, and you can browse its relatives on the People & Body emojis page.

Skin tone support means you can choose from the standard five skin tone modifiers in addition to the default yellow. That lets you match the gesture to your own appearance or to the person you are talking about.

How Do You Use the Rightwards Thumb Sign Emoji?

Use the Rightwards Thumb Sign emoji 🫺 whenever you want to point to something on the right or show a middling, non-committal reaction.

As a Pointer

Place it at the end of a line to direct attention to something beside your text. In a caption, it can nudge people toward a tagged account or an image positioned next to your words.

• Check the new menu 🫺
• Turn right at the bakery 🫺 and it's the second door.

As a Lukewarm Reaction

When someone asks whether you liked a movie, a restaurant, or a plan, the sideways thumb answers without committing. It sits between approval and disapproval.

• How was the concert? 🫺 Good opener, long wait.

If you want to express clear approval instead, the upright thumbs up emoji is the better choice. The sideways thumb says "it was fine," while the upright thumb says "yes."

What Does 🫺 Mean in Texting and on Social Media?

In texting and on social media, 🫺 most often means "so-so" or "I'm on the fence," with a secondary use as a rightward pointer.

In a group chat, it can answer a poll without taking a side. If friends are choosing between two restaurants and you have no strong preference, a lone 🫺 communicates that you are flexible.

On social platforms, creators may use it to point at a link in a comment, a pinned post, or text placed to the right in a graphic. Pairing it with a short phrase like "details here" makes the intent unmistakable.

Tone matters. A sideways thumb can come across as mildly dismissive if the person was hoping for enthusiasm, so consider adding a few words when the topic is something the other person cares about.

How Is It Different From the Leftwards Thumb Sign?

The Rightwards Thumb Sign 🫺 points to the right, while its mirror twin, the Leftwards Thumb Sign, points to the left.

The two are designed as a pair, so you can choose whichever direction fits your layout. If your message has an image or link on the left side, the leftward version makes more sense. If the target is on the right, use 🫺.

For the lukewarm meaning, either direction can work, though people may simply pick the one that feels more natural. Using both together, such as 🫹🫺, can frame a phrase between two sideways thumbs for emphasis.

Which Emojis Pair Well With 🫺?

Emojis that express uncertainty or draw the eye pair best with 🫺.

• 🫺 + 🤷🏻‍♀️: doubles down on indecision. See the woman shrugging emoji for a similar mood.
• 🫺 + 👀: "look over here." The eyes emoji adds curiosity to a pointing gesture.
• 🫺 + 🫹: two sideways thumbs for a balanced, framed look.
• 🫺 + 🤦🏻‍♀️: a lukewarm opinion plus mild exasperation, as with the woman facepalming emoji.

Combos work best when each emoji adds something different. Pairing 🫺 with another undecided emoji amplifies the "meh," while pairing it with an attention emoji turns it into a signpost.

How Does the Rightwards Thumb Sign Emoji Look on Different Platforms?

Platform support data for the Rightwards Thumb Sign emoji is still marked as to be determined for Apple, Google, Microsoft, Samsung, Meta, and Twitter.

Because the emoji belongs to Unicode 18.0, it needs software updates before it appears natively on devices. Until your phone or computer supports Emoji 18.0, it may show up as an empty box or a question mark in messages, even though the codepoint is valid.

Once vendors add it, each will draw its own artwork. That is normal: the Unicode Standard defines the meaning and the codepoint, while each company designs its own look. Expect differences in hand shape, shading, and angle between platforms.

If you send 🫺 to someone whose device is not updated, they may not see what you intended. For important messages, add a few words so the meaning survives either way.

When Should You Avoid the Rightwards Thumb Sign Emoji?

Avoid 🫺 when you need a clear yes or no, when the audience may not see it, or when a lukewarm tone could hurt someone's feelings.

• Formal or professional messages: a sideways thumb is vague, and a colleague may not know whether you approve.
• Emotional topics: replying to someone's good news with 🫺 may feel underwhelming. A warm word or the upright thumb is kinder.
• Older devices: if recipients cannot render Emoji 18.0, they may see a blank placeholder.
• Cross-cultural chats: hand gestures can vary in meaning from place to place, so when in doubt, spell it out.

If you are unsure how an emoji will land, the emoji translator can help you turn a sentence into emojis and check whether your message reads the way you intend.

How Do You Copy and Paste the Rightwards Thumb Sign Emoji?

You can copy the Rightwards Thumb Sign emoji 🫺 with one click on this page and paste it anywhere you can type text.

Click the copy button near the emoji, then paste it into your message, post, document, or bio using your usual paste shortcut. There is nothing to install, and it works anywhere that supports Emoji 18.0.

You can also type the shortcode :rightwards_thumb_sign: in apps that convert shortcodes into emojis. Because the emoji is so new, shortcode recognition may vary from app to app.

Want to see what else people are sending? Browse the trending emojis to spot what is catching on right now, and come back to copy 🫺 whenever you need a sideways thumb.