Thinking emoji
Copy the thinking face 🤔 and see when it means “let me think”, when it means “hmm, really?”, and how the monocle 🧐 and raised eyebrow 🤨 change the tone.
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The “hmm” emoji and its cousins
🤔 (thinking face) is the emoji version of “hmm”: hand on chin, eyes up. It can be sincere, meaning you are considering something, or sceptical, meaning you doubt it. The sceptical reading is the more common one in replies. “That’s what he said 🤔” questions the story rather than pondering it.
🧐 (face with monocle) is inspection: looking closely, often with a mock-serious tone. 🤨 (face with raised eyebrow) is straightforward doubt, close to a spoken “really?”. When you want the thinking to look genuinely open-minded, 🤔 with a question works best.
Compare the options
| Emoji | Name | Use it for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| thinking faceU+1F914 | Considering, weighing up, or polite doubt | Can be read as sceptical even when you mean it sincerely | |
| face with monocleU+1F9D0 | Examining closely, mock detective | Comes across as smug if overused | |
| face with raised eyebrowU+1F928 | Disbelief, “are you sure?” | More confrontational than 🤔 | |
| nerd faceU+1F913 | Over-thinking, pedantry | A joke; see the nerd emoji guide |
Where 🤔 lands well
- Deciding between options: “pizza or tacos 🤔”.
- Asking a real question: “does the 9:15 stop at Central? 🤔”.
- Polite doubt: “interesting take 🤔” (everyone will know what you mean).
- Puzzles and riddles: as the reply while you work it out.
🤔 as a reaction in work tools
In Slack, Discord and Teams, 🤔 is one of the most used reaction emoji, and it carries a specific meaning there: I have doubts about this or this needs discussion. A 🤔 reaction on a proposal is a polite flag rather than a no. If you want to signal genuine curiosity instead, pair it with a question in the thread, or use 👀 (“looking into it”) from the eyes emoji guide and ✅ from the check mark guide once it is resolved.
- 🤔 reaction alone: “not convinced, let’s talk”
- 🤔❓ in a reply: “can you explain this part?”
- 🤔💡: “thinking… and here’s an idea”
Text faces you can copy
Plain-character faces that paste anywhere. Tap one to copy.
- hmm
- pondering
- sceptical
- unsure
- thinking
The thinking emoji as a meme
As a one-emoji reply, 🤔 signals that you are questioning something, often with a touch of irony. It works as a gentle pushback without starting an argument: a 🤔 says “I’m not convinced” more softly than words. It’s a way to ask for clarification or express doubt without sounding confrontational.
In image-based memes, 🤔 is often paired with a screenshot or a caption that invites scrutiny. The face highlights something that deserves a second look. Sometimes it appears as a reply to a dubious claim or a too-good-to-be-true story.
Ways to read the thinking face
Use 🤔 when you want to say “that’s interesting” or “let me think about that”. It can stand in for “food for thought” when you share an idea that deserves pondering.
The raised eyebrow often adds a layer of doubt or playful suspicion. In a friendly chat, 🤔 can invite the other person to elaborate without sounding demanding.
- Wondering: “what would happen if…? 🤔”
- Interested: “oh really? 🤔”
- Intrigued: “that’s a curious idea 🤔”
Chat examples
Real messages with 🤔, and a reply that fits.
pizza or sushi tonight 🤔
why not both
should I text her first 🤔
yes. you’ve been thinking about it all day
hmm 🤔 the numbers don’t add up
check the March row
Questions people ask
Is 🤔 sarcastic?
Often, especially as a one-emoji reply to a claim. With a real question attached it reads as sincere thinking.
What is the difference between 🤔 and 🤨?
🤔 is thinking, which may include doubt. 🤨 is doubt only. If you want to sound curious rather than suspicious, use 🤔.
Is there a “hmm” emoji?
There is no character named hmm. 🤔 is the one people mean, and its Unicode name is thinking face.
Is there a “hmmm” emoji?
There’s no separate hmmm character. 🤔 is the thinking face, and people often write hmm, hmmm or hum in text to represent the same thoughtful pause. It covers everything from a quick “hmmm, let me see” to deep scepticism.
Is there a scratching head or scratching chin emoji?
🤔 shows a face with a hand under the chin, a classic thinking pose. It suggests active thought rather than confusion; for pure confusion, 😕 or 😖 are closer.
Is there an Android thinking emoji or a blue thinking emoji?
The thinking face emoji is available on Android and other platforms, though the exact visual style may vary. There is no official blue thinking emoji in Unicode; some custom emoji packs or stickers may show a blue variant, but most platforms show a yellow face with a hand under the chin. For a blue face, you could pair 🤔 with a blue heart or use a custom sticker.
What does the thinking face emoji mean?
It shows curiosity or uncertainty, like when you’re mulling over a question. For example: “I wonder what time the movie starts 🤔”.
Can 🤔 show interest or intrigue?
Yes. 🤔 often signals engaged curiosity rather than doubt when you’re responding to something thought-provoking, as in “That’s interesting 🤔”. Pair it with a question to ask for more detail.
Is 🤔 used for thoughtful reflection?
Yes, the thinking face can suggest reflection or careful consideration. You might use it when weighing options: “Should I take the earlier train or the later one? 🤔”.
Is there a wondering emoji or a wonder emoji?
There is no emoji officially named “wondering” or “wonder”. The thinking face 🤔 is the closest choice when you want to show you’re wondering about something. Pair it with a question if you want to signal curiosity.
Is there an intrigued emoji?
There isn’t an emoji specifically named “intrigued”. The thinking face 🤔 can be used to show curiosity or deep thought, and 🤨 (face with raised eyebrow) is a good choice for suspicion or disbelief.
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.
