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What Does an Upside-Down Pineapple Mean?

If you spot upside-down pineapple patterns on people’s clothes, stickers on their cars, or pins attached to their backpacks, know it’s not because they are obsessed with pineapple fruit. People displaying upside-down pineapples use it to signal that they’re swingers and are ready for other couples to join them for some action.

Upside-down pineapples are a symbol that has to do with romantic relationships.

What Does an Upside-Down Pineapple Mean?

It’s not entirely clear how and why this seemingly random symbol came to be, but it’s known to be used to attract like-minded individuals since the middle of the 20th century. Initially, it was mainly displayed on cruises and resorts where arriving couples could place it on their doors or luggage to send a message.

Who Are Swingers?

Swingers are adult couples who engage in ethical and consensual non-monogamy by swapping partners or joining larger groups for joint sexual activities and orgies.

It is an old and popular kink that many more couples enjoy than you’d think.

Swinging is based on:

Mutual trust
Mutual agreement
Open communication
Explicit consent

The couples who practice swinging do it for fun and to add something new and spicy to their sex life. For them, it’s a great way to keep things hot in the bedroom and maintain their romantic relationship while also giving each other some freedom in terms of who they lust for and sleep with.

Swinging is such a massive hit that whole clubs, private parties, and even travel destinations are specialized in and designed for this lifestyle.

Read more about ethical non-monogamy in our article.

Swinging vs. Open Relationships

There are many nuances to non-monogamous relationships.

Swinging is not the same as polyamory because it’s all about casual, irregular sex experiences with clear boundaries, both partners participating, and knowing who is sleeping with who.

Open relationships imply that lovers can have romances outside of their primary union and date or sleep with whomever they want and whenever they want. Indeed, their partner can sometimes join in on the action for a threesome, but it’s pretty rare for couples in open relationships to swap their partners.

Read our guides to polyamory and open relationships to learn more.

Where Are Upside-Down Pineapples Usually Displayed?

Although traditionally upside-down pineapples were placed on hotel doors or in luggage or bags, they can be placed anywhere for the world to see.

Swingers put stickers on their laptops, get pins for clothes, and some even put actual fruit in the shopping cart when grocery shopping. Basically, anything where this symbol can be seen and interpreted correctly is a good spot to place it.

However, it’s essential to realize that even though this is a well-known symbol for swingers, not everyone knows this fact, especially if they’re not part of this culture. That’s why if you spot someone with an upside-down pineapple, it’s best to approach them somewhat carefully and be discreet, as you don’t want to embarrass them and have an awkward encounter with a non-swinger.

Do Swingers Actually Use the Upside-Down Pineapple Symbol?

Sometimes, the symbols and concepts we hear about online aren’t used much in real life.

That’s not the case with upside-down pineapples, though. People use those signs to signal that they’re open for business. If you go to the Flure dating app and see users with pineapple emojis in their profile, it very well may mean they’re swingers.

What Are Some Other Symbols for Swinging and Other Forms of Non-Monogamy?

Pineapples aren’t the only symbols that swingers use to identify themselves and attract others.

Here are some other relatively common signals of someone’s pro-swinging nature:

Pink decorations in the front garden, such as flamingos
Garden gnomes
Toe or thumb rings
Black rings are worn specifically on the right hand.

These symbols may highlight someone’s swinging way, but they can also be random objects or style choices that people make while remaining blissfully unaware of their hidden meaning.

What Are Some Other Forms of Non-Monogamy?

Swinging is not your only option if you’d like to try ethical non-monogamy. Here are some other popular options you can explore with your partner.

Polyamory

Polyamory is the carte blanche on ethical non-monogamy. With this arrangement, couples have multiple relationships with the full consent of all parties involved. This can be a group of people all cross-dating each other, or polyamorous lovers might venture out and seek completely new acquaintances that none of them have met before.

The main rule of a polyamorous dynamic is for everyone to be fully aware of what’s going on and agree to the arrangement, knowing that it’s not only sex or casual dating but can grow into a full-on emotional bond, commitment, and love.

Open relationship

An open relationship, although it sounds very frivolous, is much more limited than a polyamorous one. Here, the openness is centered around sex. Partners are allowed to sleep around, but they can’t build relationships and fall in love. It also depends on whether partners are allowed to have repeated sex with people on the side or whether it has to be someone new each time.

Also, unlike in polyamory, where all couples are equal, with an open relationship, the primary couple’s relationship is prioritized over everyone else. Other sex partners are seen as recreational and someone you engage with for entertainment and a bit of thrill.

Trust, boundaries, and mutual respect play a huge role here, and your primary partner should never be compromised for a fling.

Casual non-monogamy

Casual non-monogamy is a super relaxed dating format. You’re allowed to date multiple people, have one-off sex, and explore different formats and types of romance, and it’s all very laid-back and with no pressure.

Here, boundaries vary, but the core principle remains unchanged – if you’re practicing casual non-monogamy, everyone involved should know and agree to it.

DADT

Don’t ask, don’t tell, or DADT, is an ethical non-monogamy dynamic where both partners would like to have sex or date someone on the side, but they’re not comfortable talking about it or knowing the details.

This is an excellent solution for someone who struggles to commit to a monogamous relationship fully or sees no particular value in sexual fidelity but also doesn’t want to hurt their lover or be hurt by them.

Controlling one’s jealousy and other emotions is hard. That’s why if you know you’ll likely crash if you hear about your partner fooling around, but don’t hate the concept in general, you can try DADT.

Flure isn’t just a dating app—it’s your gateway to meaningful connections and unforgettable experiences. Whether you’re seeking new friendships, someone special, or just exploring, Flure makes it easy to find your kind of people. Built on trust, safety, and authenticity, Flure turns your online dating into something truly magical. Ready to make connections that matter? Join Flure today and see where it takes you!

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Upside-Down Pineapple FAQ

What does an upside-down pineapple mean?

An upside-down pineapple is a global symbol for swinging. It is a subtle yet definitive sign for someone to demonstrate their lifestyle and invite others without making their preferences painfully evident to everyone around them.

What does 🍍 mean from a guy?

If a guy sends you a pineapple emoji, it usually means one of three things. One, he’s just sending you this random emoji because it’s his emoji of choice. Two, he’s a swinger trying to test the waters and see if you’re up for partner swapping. Three, he’s using this emoji to flirt. Many turn to fruit emojis to appear playful and tease you.

Why do pineapples symbolize swinging?

It’s unclear why pineapples turned upside down became an international symbol for swingers. Still, it’s believed to originate from cruises and resort destinations where free-spirited travelers could find couples to have fun with and not have to see them again after a couple of weeks.