π
Eggplant
EG-plant
Definitions
1
Food Β· Vegetable
Common
A purple vegetable with an elongated shape, used in cooking various dishes. Also called aubergine in British English.
Used in food contexts, recipes, and discussions about cooking or eating vegetables.
Making π parmesan for dinner tonight!
Recipe sharing on Instagram
Got some fresh π and tomatoes from the farmer's market
Food shopping message
The literal meaning is common in culinary contexts, especially when discussing Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, or Asian cuisine.
2
Slang Β· Sexual
Very Common
A widely recognized phallic symbol representing the male genitalia, used in flirtatious or sexual contexts.
Commonly used in sexting, dating apps, and suggestive conversations. Consider context before using as it may be inappropriate in formal settings.
You up? π
Late night text message
He keeps sending me π pics without asking first
Dating app complaint
One of the most recognized sexual emoji innuendos across digital culture, particularly popular among younger adults for suggestive messaging.
Evolution Timeline
2010
Added to Unicode 6.0 as a simple food emoji representing the vegetable.
Part of early food emoji set with no sexual connotations.
2011
Began appearing on mobile platforms with varying designs.
Increasing emoji adoption across smartphone platforms.
2015
Became widely established as a phallic symbol in digital communication.
Dating app culture and sexting practices normalized the innuendo.
2019
Facebook and Instagram began blocking the eggplant emoji in certain contexts related to sexual solicitation.
Platform content moderation addressing suggestive emoji usage.
Cultural Context
The eggplant emoji exemplifies how digital communication transforms innocent symbols into coded sexual language, allowing suggestive communication while maintaining plausible deniability.
Represents a digital euphemism that crosses language barriers, functioning similarly across most cultures despite different names for the vegetable itself.
Demonstrates the generational digital divide, with younger users immediately recognizing the sexual connotation while older users may interpret it literally.
Subject to content moderation algorithms on social platforms, which sometimes flag or block it in certain contexts due to its sexual associations.
Exemplifies how emoji meanings evolve beyond their intended purpose, with the sexual meaning now overshadowing the original food representation in most contexts.
Regional Variations
United Kingdom
Called 'aubergine' rather than 'eggplant', but the sexual innuendo remains identical to other English-speaking regions.
India
More commonly used in its literal food context in public communications, with sexual usage more restricted to private messaging.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: Generally aware of the sexual connotation but more likely to use it in both food and suggestive contexts depending on audience.
Gen_Z: Primary use is sexual innuendo; rarely used for actual food. Often used ironically or in memes about sexting and dating culture.
Older: More likely to use literally for food contexts, sometimes unaware of the strong sexual connotation prevalent in digital culture.
Millennials: Commonly used for sexual references in dating apps and private messages. Aware of dual meaning and context-dependent usage.
Common Combinations
ππ¦
Explicit sexual reference to male ejaculation
Commonly used in sexting and explicit digital flirtation
ππ
Sexual reference to intercourse
The peach (buttocks) and eggplant combination suggests sexual activity
ππ
Suggestive flirtation with sexual undertones
The smirking face emphasizes the intentional innuendo
ππͺ
Joke about castration or rejection of sexual advances
Often used humorously to reject unwanted sexual messages
ππ½οΈ
Literal reference to cooking eggplant or eating eggplant dishes
One of few combinations that maintains the literal vegetable meaning
Related Emojis
π
Paired sexual innuendo representing buttocks
π₯
Alternative phallic vegetable with similar but less intense sexual connotations
π¦
Frequently paired to indicate ejaculation in sexual contexts
π
Alternative phallic food emoji with similar sexual connotations
π«
Another vegetable emoji, but without strong sexual connotations