Have you ever opened Snapchat and noticed a yellow heart, red heart, smiley face, or fire emoji next to someone’s name? These small symbols can be confusing, especially if you do not know why they appear or why they suddenly change. The snapchat emoji meaning depends on where the emoji appears and how you use the app.
Snapchat uses Friend Emojis to show patterns in your friendships, such as who your Best Friends are and whether you have an active Snapstreak. A yellow heart means you and someone else are each other’s number one Best Friend, while a red heart means that status has lasted two weeks. This guide explains the common Snapchat emojis, their meanings, how to read them, and what to do when they change.
Key Takeaways
- 💛 Yellow heart: You and your friend are each other’s number one Best Friend.
- ❤️ Red heart: You have held the number one Best Friend spot for two weeks in a row.
- 💕 Pink hearts: You have held that mutual status for two months in a row.
- 😊 Smiling face: The person is one of your Best Friends, but not your number one.
- 😎 Sunglasses face: You share at least one Best Friend.
- 🔥 Fire: You and your friend have an active Snapstreak.
- ⌛ Hourglass: Your Snapstreak is close to ending.
What Does Snapchat Emoji Meaning Refer To?
The phrase Snapchat emoji meaning usually refers to the symbols that appear next to friends’ names in the app. Snapchat assigns these Friend Emojis based on how you and other people interact.
For example, a heart can show that you and another person exchange Snaps more than you do with other friends. A fire emoji shows that you have maintained a Snapstreak.
These symbols are different from emojis someone types into a message. If a friend sends you ❤️ in a Chat, they may be showing love, care, or affection. If the same heart appears automatically next to their name, it shows your Best Friend status on Snapchat.
Quick tip: Check where the emoji appears before deciding what it means.
Snapchat Emoji Meanings Chart
Here is a quick guide to the most common Friend Emojis and what they tell you.
| Emoji | Name | Meaning on Snapchat |
|---|---|---|
| 💛 | Yellow heart | You are each other’s number one Best Friend |
| ❤️ | Red heart | You have been each other’s number one Best Friend for two weeks |
| 💕 | Pink hearts | You have held that status for two months |
| 😊 | Smiling face | This person is one of your Best Friends |
| 😬 | Grimacing face | Your number one Best Friend is also theirs |
| 😎 | Sunglasses face | You share a Best Friend |
| 😏 | Smirking face | You are one of their Best Friends, but they are not one of yours |
| 🔥 | Fire | You have an active Snapstreak |
| 💯 | Hundred | Your Snapstreak has reached 100 days |
| ⌛ | Hourglass | Your Snapstreak is about to end |
| 👶 | Baby | You recently became friends on Snapchat |
| 🎂 | Birthday cake | It is the birthday listed by your friend |
Some Friend Emojis may differ if you have changed their default appearance in Snapchat settings. Features and labels can also change as Snapchat updates the app.
What Do the Snapchat Heart Emojis Mean?
Heart emojis are among the most searched Snapchat symbols because they show different stages of mutual Best Friend status.
💛 Yellow Heart Meaning
The yellow heart means you and another person are each other’s number one Best Friend on Snapchat. You send the most Snaps to each other compared with your other Snapchat friends.
EXAMPLE MESSAGE
You: “We finally got the yellow heart! 💛”
Friend: “Besties!”
MEANING: Your Snapchat activity shows that you are each other’s top Best Friend.
BEST USED FOR: In a message, the yellow heart can show friendship, happiness, or appreciation. When Snapchat places it beside a name, it represents your mutual Best Friend status.
❤️ Red Heart Meaning
The red heart means you and your friend have been each other’s number one Best Friend for two weeks in a row.
It can also show love or strong affection when someone sends it in a message. Its meaning depends on whether it appears automatically or was sent by another person.
EXAMPLE MESSAGE
Alex: “Two weeks with the red heart! ❤️”
Sam: “Let’s keep it going!”
MEANING: You have maintained your mutual number one Best Friend status for two weeks.
💕 Pink Hearts Meaning
The two pink hearts mean you and your friend have been each other’s number one Best Friend for two consecutive months.
EXAMPLE MESSAGE
“You are my Snapchat bestie! 💕”
MEANING: Beside a friend’s name, the pink hearts mark two months of mutual number one Best Friend status. In a message, they may express love, closeness, or affection.
Do Snapchat Heart Emojis Prove Someone Likes You?
No. A heart beside someone’s name shows Snapchat activity, not proof of romantic feelings.
You may have a yellow, red, or pink heart with a close friend, sibling, cousin, or romantic partner. If someone sends you a heart in Chat, look at the conversation and your relationship before deciding what they mean.
What Do Snapchat Face Emojis Mean?
Face emojis can show how your Best Friend lists overlap. They do not automatically tell you how someone feels about you.
😊 Smiling Face
The smiling face means that person is one of your Best Friends on Snapchat, but they are not your number one Best Friend.
You exchange plenty of Snaps with them, even if another person holds the top spot.
😬 Grimacing Face
The grimacing face means your number one Best Friend is also that person’s number one Best Friend.
For example, you and your friend may both send the most Snaps to the same person.
😎 Face With Sunglasses
The sunglasses face means that one of your Best Friends is also one of the other person’s Best Friends.
You share at least one person on your Best Friend lists.
😏 Smirking Face
The smirking face has traditionally indicated that you are one of another person’s Best Friends, but they are not one of yours. This suggests that they send you more Snaps relative to their other contacts than you send them relative to yours.
If you do not see this emoji, that does not mean anything is wrong. Snapchat can change its Friend Emojis, and your settings may differ.
QUICK TIP: These face emojis describe Snapchat activity. Do not treat them as proof that someone is jealous, flirting, or hiding something.
What Do the Fire and Hourglass Emojis Mean?
🔥 Fire Emoji Meaning
The fire emoji means you have an active Snapstreak with another person. A Snapstreak continues when both people send each other photo or video Snaps within the required daily period.
A number beside the fire shows how many consecutive days your streak has lasted.
EXAMPLE MESSAGE
Jamie: “We are at 25 days! 🔥”
Taylor: “Let’s make it 30!”
MEANING: You have kept your Snapstreak going for 25 days.
⌛ Hourglass Emoji Meaning
The hourglass warns that your Snapstreak is about to expire. You and your friend should each send a qualifying photo or video Snap as soon as possible to keep it going.
A Chat message alone does not count as the required Snap for a streak.
REPLY IDEA
- “Quick, send me a Snap!”
- “Our streak is about to end!”
- “Let’s save our streak 🔥”
💯 Hundred Emoji Meaning
The hundred emoji can appear beside the fire after you and your friend maintain a Snapstreak for 100 consecutive days.
It marks a long streak rather than a separate friendship level.
What Do Other Snapchat Emojis Mean?
A few other symbols may appear beside names or in certain parts of Snapchat.
- 👶 Baby: Often marks a new Snapchat friendship.
- 🎂 Birthday cake: Indicates a friend’s birthday as entered on Snapchat.
- 🌟 Gold star: Can indicate that someone replayed a friend’s Snap within the past 24 hours.
- ♈ Zodiac signs: These can show a person’s zodiac sign based on birthday information they have added.
- ✌️ Peace sign: May be used for group-related indicators, depending on the feature and app version.
Snapchat also has symbols for sent Snaps, opened messages, screenshots, and other actions. Those are interface status icons, not all Friend Emojis, so their meanings can differ from the symbols listed above.
Why Did My Snapchat Emojis Change?
Snapchat Friend Emojis can change as your activity changes. They are not permanent labels.
Here are common reasons an emoji may disappear or change:
- You and your friend no longer send the most Snaps to each other.
- Another friend becomes your number one Best Friend.
- You lose a Snapstreak because the required Snaps were not exchanged in time.
- Your friendship activity changes over several days or weeks.
- You have changed your Friend Emoji settings.
For example, your yellow heart may change if you and another person are no longer each other’s number one Best Friend. A red heart may also disappear if your mutual status changes.
Quick tip: If an emoji changes, check your recent activity and Friend Emoji settings before assuming that your friendship has changed.
Can You Change Snapchat Friend Emojis?
Snapchat may let you customize Friend Emojis, depending on your device, app version, and account settings.
To check:
- Open Snapchat.
- Tap your profile or Bitmoji.
- Open Settings using the gear icon.
- Look for Friend Emojis or Customize Emojis.
- Review the available choices and select a replacement if the option is available.
Menu names and available choices may differ between devices and app versions. Changing the emoji’s appearance does not change the activity it represents.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the most common Snapchat emoji meaning?
The meaning depends on the symbol. A yellow heart shows mutual number one Best Friend status, a fire shows an active Snapstreak, and a smiley face marks one of your Best Friends.
2. Does a yellow heart on Snapchat mean love?
Not necessarily. The yellow heart beside a name shows that you and the other person are each other’s number one Best Friend. It can represent friendship rather than romantic love.
3. What is the difference between 💛, ❤️, and 💕 on Snapchat?
The yellow heart means you are currently each other’s number one Best Friend. The red heart means you have held that status for two weeks, while the pink hearts mean you have held it for two months.
4. What does 😊 mean beside a Snapchat name?
It means the person is one of your Best Friends, but not your number one Best Friend. It reflects your Snapchat activity rather than the person’s feelings about you.
5. What does 🔥 mean next to a number?
It means you have an active Snapstreak. The number shows how many consecutive days you and your friend have exchanged qualifying Snaps.
6. Does the hourglass mean my friend stopped snapping me?
Not necessarily. It warns that your Snapstreak is close to ending. You may need to exchange qualifying Snaps soon to keep it active.
7. Can Snapchat emojis show if someone likes me?
No Friend Emoji can confirm romantic interest. The symbols mainly reflect activity on Snapchat. Look at the person’s words, actions, and communication for a better sense of their feelings.
8. Why did my red or yellow heart disappear?
Your Best Friend status may have changed because your Snapping activity changed. Snapchat updates these symbols as interactions change, so a missing heart does not automatically mean that your friend is upset with you.
Conclusion
The snapchat emoji meaning guide helps explain the symbols you see beside friends’ names. Yellow, red, and pink hearts mark stages of mutual Best Friend status. Smiley faces show how Best Friend lists overlap, while the fire and hourglass relate to Snapstreaks. Other symbols can mark birthdays, new friendships, and additional app features.
The best way to read these emojis is to check their location and the context. An emoji beside a name may be an automatic Snapchat status, while the same emoji in a message may carry a personal meaning. Practical tip: If a symbol confuses you, check Snapchat’s Friend Emoji settings and look at the conversation before drawing conclusions.
Oliver Bennett is an emoji meanings writer at Emojiee.com. He writes simple, helpful guides about emoji meanings, texting expressions, heart emojis, and emoji combinations to help readers understand how emojis are used in everyday conversations, relationships, and social media.
