Emojis tend to go viral in droves, so perhaps it's no surprise that one of these emojis is a little... otherworldly. If you've ever wondered, "OMG, what do all the monster emojis mean?" - good news! I've done the heavy lifting for you. Because goodness knows we could all use a little more Japanese Ogre in our lives, right?
Monster emoji differ from other standard emoji sets (like all those colorful heart emojis or nine cats emojis) in that they're usually not all grouped together in the standard emoji menu. Many of them are; for example, the aforementioned ogre is placed next to a Japanese goblin. But you have to dig a little deeper into some of them, and even then, it's not always clear what exactly they represent.
But you know what? As weird as they are, I'm glad I have these little monsters in my pocket. They may not always be very useful, but they add something indescribable to our digital conversations—and if we're really creative, we can even use them to play a game of Space Invaders with the person on the other end. Not too shabby, right?
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So: here are the official names and meanings of all nine funny little monster emojis, because why not? Raul!
1. Smiley face with horns
Also known as the "Happy Devil," "Devil Horns," "Devil," "Red Devil," and "Purple Devil" emojis (the color of which changes depending on the device or operating system you're using), this little guy looks absolutely Be serious. Between the horns, the furrowed brow, and the unsettling smile...well, let's just say you don't want to mess with him. He looks more evil in the Android version (see image on the right), although I'm not entirely sure why. Possible uses include: as a replacement for the word "devil" ("I had a smiley face with horns trying to get home due to rush hour traffic today") or to indicate conspiracy and/or conspiracy (hahahaha).
2. Imp
Emojipedia describes the imp as an "evil version of the devil"; he is also "cheeky and mischievous" and has his roots in Germanic folklore. Personally, I just think he looks like his angry cousin with a smiley face and horns. Other names include the Sad Demon and Purple Goblin emojis, although (again) it's just purple in the iOS version. The Imp serves much the same purpose as the Horned Smiley - but it's probably best reserved for angry and disgruntled moments. I like to imagine him shaking his little purple fist at the sky while letting out a powerful, high-pitched little roar.
3. Ghost
No, not Jon Snow’s beloved direwolf. The ghost emoji, sometimes called the Halloween or ghoul emoji, is...well, a ghost. It might even be a Halloween costume, though whether we're seeing sheets or a disembodied spirit remains to be seen. It looks a little dull in the iOS version, so I prefer to use it to indicate that I'm sticking my tongue out at something. 2. You guys are so cunning. 2 weird 4 me.
4. Jack-o-lantern
Like the ghost emoji, the jack-o-lantern is sometimes called the Halloween emoji; however, it is also known as the pumpkin and/or pumpkin head emoji, so I think it qualifies as a monster. Use it for all your Nightmare Before Christmas -related emoji needs - or for pumpkinhead fans, even though pumpkinheads really don't look much like pumpkins.
5. Japanese Ogre
this? this is my favourite. Because, I mean... how could you not love this guy? The iOS version looks like something out of Where Wild Things Are, which is for the best. Anyway, the Japanese ogre can also be called a "scary face", "scary", "red monster" or "ghost emoji"; according to Emojipedia, he is a type of raw ghost often seen during New Year's rituals . His job is to ward off evil spirits from people's homes, because hey. Someone has to do it, right?
To be honest, I really don't know why or how you use the Japanese ogre emoji in everyday conversations. I guess he could stand in for the horned smiley or the imp... but he's way cooler than that.
6. Japanese fairies
I like to think of the Japanese goblin (aka the red mask or snout face emoji) as the slightly comical younger brother of the Japanese ogre. The Android version looks more like a grumpy old professor than a supernatural being, so don't be afraid to use him as a codename (codename emoji?) for your least favorite teacher.
7. Skull
Like most skulls, this one can represent death itself, or the feeling of death. However, given that one of its alternate names is the Gray Skull emoji, another perfectly acceptable use for it is to refer to the Masters of the Universe. Because "By the power of the Gray Skull emoji!" is one of the greatest sentences in the English/emoji language.
8. Extraterrestrial Aliens
Not going to lie: I find it a little weird that this guy is an extraterrestrial alien. Relative to...what? prick? But hey, it's also known as the ET Emoji and the Alien Emoji, so maybe its full title just makes sure it covers all the bases. It's portrayed as a "classic Gray" alien, which I'm sure Agent Mulder would love; but the iOS version is surprisingly cute.
What I love about the alien emoji is that it can be used to represent a variety of things, from actual UFO sightings to being out of place in a place that makes you feel like an alien. However, it should not be confused with the "alien in the box" placeholder symbol that appears in older versions of some operating systems when asked to display newer emojis (i.e. ones it does not support) the symbol.
9. Alien monsters
What is the difference between alien monsters and extraterrestrial aliens? Other than the fact that the alien monsters are considered "video game" aliens (hence the Space Invaders -esque look of iOS), I don't know. But regardless, I like the tentacled creature as an emoji option. Just, you know... just in case I need to tell anyone, an alien is sucking my brain out of the top of my head or something.
Image: Emoji Encyclopedia (10)
