What Does the ???? Emoji Mean?

• The ???? represents an actual donkey first and foremost, though it can also be used to tell someone they’re being stubborn or rude.
• The ???? emoji also symbolizes the Democratic Party of the United States since the party’s animal mascot is a donkey.
• The ???? emoji references pop culture characters like Donkey (Shrek) and Eeyore (Winnie the Pooh). Sometimes it also refers to mules or drug mules.

What does the ???? (donkey) emoji mean?

The ???? emoji represents an actual donkey. This is the most obvious meaning (and use) for the ???? emoji. When you want to shorten the word “donkey,” and you’re talking about the furry, hooved mammal, simply use the ???? emoji in your text or social media post. For example, you might find a cute video on Instagram or ask a friend to visit a petting zoo with you. “Check out this cute video!! Is it weird that I want a ???? now?” “My uncle’s farm is so cool! He’s even got this grumpy ol’ donkey ????”

The ???? emoji means someone is being stubborn or obstinate. Donkeys are associated with stubbornness and even rudeness since the word “jack*ss” specifically refers to a male donkey, and “*ss” is a word derived from the Latin term asinus, which refers to donkeys. Thus, the ???? emoji is a great way to tell someone when they’re being rude, obstinate, stubborn, or “mule-headed” about something. “You’re being a real ???? right now.” “Don’t you think you’re being just a little stubborn about this? ????”

The ???? emoji symbolizes the Democratic Party of the United States. The two main political parties in the United States (Democrat and Republican) each have animal mascots; Republicans have elephants, and Democrats have donkeys. Therefore, use the ???? emoji when you want to discuss political matters, and specifically the Democratic Party. “I’m voting all ???? this year!!” “Have you been following the ???? party primary race?”

The ???? emoji represents popular donkey characters in pop culture. There are two major (and beloved) mule characters in pop culture: Donkey (from Shrek) and Eeyore (from Winnie the Pooh). When you want to express your love for one of those characters, use the ???? emoji in your text. “Rewatching Shrek, and I think I have a new favorite character this time around! ????” “All the characters in Winnie the Pooh are super cute, but one is also super relatable ????”

When used as “mule,” the ???? emoji may refer to drug smuggling. A “mule” is someone who carries contraband across a border for a smuggling organization, usually to reduce the risk of those organizations getting caught. “Drug mule” specifically applies to someone who smuggles drugs. Use the ???? emoji to discuss this topic, whether you're texting about a topical news story or a plotline in your favorite TV show. “Did you see that new documentary about drug mules on Netflix? ???? Totally wild.” “Check out this article about ???? and smuggling. I can’t even imagine that happening in our area!”

Responding to the ???? (Donkey) Emoji

Talk about your favorite animals (and donkeys in particular). Donkeys may not be the most common topic of conversation, but they do come up sometimes! If someone shares a cute photo or drops the fact that their favorite animal is a donkey, for example, go ahead and comment on it. Agree with them that donkeys are super cute, disagree, or mention your own favorite animal as well. Them: “IDK why people don’t talk about how cute ???? are. They’re my favorite animal!”You: “That’s fair! I think my favorite animal is a leopard, though ????”

Find out what’s bugging them if someone calls you stubborn. When someone calls you stubborn or accuses you of being rude, something may be bothering them; you may even find that you unintentionally said something to hurt their feelings. So, if you’re not sure what the problem is, politely ask! Alternatively, if it’s just a friend affectionately calling you stubborn, acknowledge them with a joke or clever comment. Them: “Geez, you’re being such a ????”You: “Hey, is something up? I’m sorry if I said something that wasn’t cool.”

Agree or disagree with their political views if you feel comfortable doing it. Politics can be a touchy subject, so it’s perfectly okay if you don’t want to engage when someone expresses their political beliefs or asks about yours. However, if it’s a friendly conversation (or you’re comfortable disagreeing with them), feel free to respond to a political comment containing the ???? emoji. Them: “You vote ????, right?”You: “Yeah, I do. The party isn’t perfect, but it still lines up with my beliefs enough that I’m willing to support it. What about you?”

Discuss movie or TV characters if they make a pop culture reference. Someone texting about popular characters like Donkey or Eeyore with the ???? emoji might be trying to find out about your movie and TV preferences or nostalgic childhood favorites. So, whether you’re totally familiar with those characters or you don’t really know much about them, feel free to respond with your opinions, hot takes, or simply gush about your favorite scenes starring each character. Them: “I was addicted to Winnie the Pooh as a kid. Eeyore was my favorite ????”You: “Ooh, good one! I always vibed with Tigger—we both had a lot of energy, haha!”

Ask for details when someone shares a story about drug mules. Though other uses for the ???? emoji are likely much more common, someone you know might share a story, TV, or movie recommendation related to drug mules. If you find that topic intriguing, ask them for more info! You never know—you might hear something truly fascinating or find your next binge-worthy series. Them: “So apparently, I had a great uncle who was a ???? in the 50s?”You: “Whoa, seriously? What happened there, do you know?”

Combinations with the ???? (Donkey) Emoji

Use ???????????? to reference the Democratic Party of the United States. By itself, the ???? emoji can still mean “Democrats,” but if you want to be super specific, pair it with the ???????? (American flag) emoji. That way, anyone familiar with United States politics will know immediately that’s what you’re referencing, rather than one of the other possible meanings of the ???? emoji. You: “Any good candidates this year? ????????????”Them: “There’s one presidential candidate I really like! Check her out…”

Combine ???? with ???????? to bring up the movie Shrek. Are you a big fan of the Dreamworks animated movie Shrek (or any of its sequels)? Alone, the ???? emoji can stand for the character Donkey, played by Eddie Murphy, but when combined as ????????????, this wacky string of emojis references Shrek as a whole. You: “Know what time it is?”Them: “...What?”You: “Time for a ???????????? rewatch!!!!” Alternatively, use the combination ????????????, with the ???? (princess) emoji referencing Princess Fiona rather than a ???? (dragon) emoji referencing the character Dragon.

Use ???????? to call someone stubborn or obstinate. When you want to emphasize that someone is being irritating and inflexible, pair the ???? emoji with the ???? (unamused face) emoji. However, it’s best to only use this combination when someone really is upsetting you; if it’s not a big deal, try to avoid sending messages that might make them think you’re angry with them and cause a miscommunication. You: “I wish you wouldn’t be so stubborn about this. ????????”Them: “Hey, sorry, I didn’t realize it was that important. I promise to think about it, okay?”

Combine ???? and ???? to mention the character Eeyore. There aren’t a lot of prominent donkey characters in pop culture! Still, in case you want to make it clear you’re talking about the Winnie the Pooh character, use ???????? in your texts and messages, as Eeyore famously wears a pink bow on his tail. “I saw the cutest ???????? plush in the Disney store!” “I older I get, the more I realize how much of a mood Eeyore is. ????????”