Slightly smiling face emoji ๐
๐ is the slightly smiling face: plain eyes and a small closed-mouth smile. It is the most double-edged smile in the set.
Published ยท Updated
What the slightly smiling face ๐ emoji means
๐ is the slightly smiling face: plain eyes and a small closed-mouth smile. It is the most double-edged smile in the set. Taken at face value it is a polite, mild โokayโ or โsounds goodโ; among younger users it is famously passive-aggressive โ the smile you give when you are absolutely not fine (โsure, take my parking spot ๐โ). The flipped version ๐ upside-down face makes the sarcasm explicit. For a warm, unambiguous smile use ๐; the smile emoji guide compares every one.
Unicode name: slightly smiling face ยท U+1F642 ยท Emoji 1.0 (2015) ยท group: Smileys & Emotion.
How people use it
- Polite: โthanks ๐โ in work chats
- Passive-aggressive: a smile through gritted teeth
- Deadpan: after a bad joke
- Sincere but low-key: from people who use it plainly, often older users
Compare the options
| Emoji | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| slightly smiling faceU+1F642 | Polite, or passive-aggressive | |
| smiling face with smiling eyesU+1F60A | Warm, genuine | |
| upside-down faceU+1F643 | Sarcastic, โthis is fineโ | |
| neutral faceU+1F610 | Blank | |
| relieved faceU+1F60C | Content, eyes closed |
The ๐ meme and why it reads as a fake smile
The ๐ emoji became a meme as shorthand for passive-aggressive politeness. The contrast between its neutral eyes and small, closed-mouth smile makes it look insincere, so messages like โthanks ๐โ or โgood for you ๐โ often read as sarcastic. It works especially well in text because tone is hard to convey, and the blank expression suggests someone is holding back frustration.
The meme form often uses the emoji alone as a reply, or stacks a few together to intensify the feeling. The related upside-down face ๐ upside-down face emoji is used similarly but with a more overtly silly tone. Knowing the meme context helps you avoid sending ๐ to someone who might read it as annoyance.
How ๐ compares with other smileys
The slightly smiling face has a more neutral expression than ๐ or ๐, which show more enthusiasm. People sometimes choose ๐ when they want to be polite but not overly warm, such as in a short work reply or a brief acknowledgement. It is a good option when a wide grin would feel too strong.
This emoji is not the same as ๐โ๏ธ, which combines the face with a vertical arrow. If someone sends ๐ alone, they mean the simple smile, not the arrow sequence.
Questions people ask
What does ๐ mean from a girl?
Either a simple polite smile or a pointed passive-aggressive one. If the message is short and something went wrong, assume the second.
Is ๐ passive aggressive?
It has that reputation online, especially under 30. Many people still use it as a plain friendly smile, so it depends on the sender.
What is the difference between ๐ and ๐?
๐ has smiling eyes and rosy cheeks and is clearly warm. ๐ has neutral eyes and a small smile, which is what lets it read as fake.
Is ๐โ๏ธ the same as ๐?
No. ๐โ๏ธ is a separate emoji sequence that combines the slightly smiling face with a vertical arrow. ๐ is the slightly smiling face. They are different characters and should not be confused.
Is ๐ the small smiley face emoji?
Yes, ๐ is sometimes called the small smiley face emoji because its smile is small and understated compared to wider grins like ๐ or ๐. The official name is slightly smiling face.
Is there a half smiley face emoji?
There is no dedicated half-smile emoji in the standard set. ๐ is often used to convey a half-hearted or polite smile.
About this guide
Written and maintained by the Emoji Directory editorial team, without ads or sponsorship. Meanings describe how the emoji is commonly used in public posts and messages, not an official definition. Names, code points, versions, keywords and translations come from the Unicode Emoji 18.0 and CLDR data; shortcodes from the gemoji project. Last reviewed . Spotted a mistake or a new usage? Tell us, or read how the directory is made.
