Classic smile :-)
A friendly or happy tone; the nose makes the face easier to recognize.
Classic text faces
Emoticons copy & paste
Emoticons copy and paste directory with 42 classic text faces for smiles, winks, sadness, surprise, affection, and attitude, with clear text-face meanings and usage tips.
42 classic emoticons
6 useful groups
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Quick answer
What is an emoticon?
An emoticon is an expression made from text characters. Turn your head left to read the eyes, optional nose, and mouth in :-). Unlike an emoji, it stays text instead of becoming platform-drawn pictograph artwork.
- Smile:
:-)usually adds warmth or friendliness. - Wink:
;-)can mark a joke, hint, or playful tone. - Frown:
:-(can show sadness, sympathy, or disappointment.
Group 01
Happy and smiling emoticons
Friendly smiles ranging from quiet warmth to obvious excitement.
Classic smile
Simple smile :)
A quick friendly smile that can soften a short message.
Bright smile =)
A cheerful smile with wide-looking eyes.
Big grin :D
Strong happiness, laughter, or excitement.
Wide-eyed grin =D
An energetic grin or delighted reaction.
Square smile :]
A warm smile with a slightly playful shape.
Cute smile :3
A cute, cat-like, or deliberately playful smile.
Group 02
Winking and playful emoticons
Winks and tongue-out faces for jokes, teasing, and light sarcasm.
Classic wink ;-)
A joke, shared understanding, flirtation, or playful hint.
Quick wink ;)
A compact sign that the sentence should not be read too literally.
Tongue out :-P
Playful teasing, silliness, or taking back a mock-serious line.
Playful tongue :P
A casual joke or cheeky reaction.
Winking tongue ;P
Extra playful teasing with a knowing wink.
Eyes-shut laugh XD
Very strong laughter or exaggerated amusement.
Playful smile :^)
A quirky smile often used to make a line feel deliberately odd.
Group 03
Sad and worried emoticons
Frowns and tears for disappointment, sympathy, hurt, or worry.
Classic frown :-(
Sadness, disappointment, or sympathy.
Simple frown :(
A compact unhappy or disappointed reaction.
Crying face :'-(
Visible tears, grief, or strong emotional hurt.
Crying :'(
Sadness with a tear; the surrounding message shows the intensity.
Dismayed face D:
Shock, dread, or a dramatic unhappy reaction.
Small frown :c
A soft, cute, or restrained sign of sadness.
Worried frown :<
Discomfort, concern, or feeling let down.
Group 04
Surprised and confused emoticons
Open mouths and uncertain expressions for shock, doubt, or mixed feelings.
Classic surprise :-O
Surprise, amazement, or an open-mouthed reaction.
Surprised face :O
A shorter form for shock or sudden realization.
Confused face :-?
A question, uncertainty, or not understanding a point.
Uneasy face :S
Confusion, awkwardness, worry, or mixed feelings.
Skeptical face :-/
Doubt, hesitation, mild annoyance, or uncertainty.
Conflicted face :\
An uneasy or conflicted reaction read in the other direction.
Neutral face :|
A flat, restrained, unimpressed, or undecided tone.
Group 05
Love and affection emoticons
Text hearts and kisses for warmth, friendship, romance, and appreciation.
Text heart <3
Love, affection, support, or appreciation.
Broken text heart </3
Heartbreak, disappointment, or emotional pain.
Kiss :-*
A kiss, affection, or a warm sign-off.
Quick kiss :*
A compact affectionate or flirtatious kiss.
Winking kiss ;-*
Playful affection or flirtation.
Sealed lips :-x
A kiss in some contexts, or keeping a secret in others.
Hugs and kisses xoxo
An affectionate sign-off rather than a face.
Group 06
Characters and attitudes emoticons
Text faces for coolness, innocence, mischief, silence, and embarrassment.
Sunglasses face B-)
Feeling cool, confident, relaxed, or pleased.
Glasses face 8-)
A face with glasses; sometimes a nerdy or surprised tone.
Angel face O:-)
Innocence, good behavior, or jokingly pretending to be blameless.
Mischievous grin >:-)
A devilish plan, cheeky trouble, or playful mischief.
Embarrassed face :-$
Embarrassment, shyness, or feeling awkward.
Lips sealed :-X
Silence, secrecy, or refusing to say more.
Foot in mouth :-!
Regret after saying something awkward or inappropriate.
How to read a sideways text face
| Part | Example | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Eyes | :, ;, 8, B | A wink, glasses, wide eyes, or an ordinary gaze. |
| Nose | -, ^ | Optional structure or a quirky expression; many short forms omit it. |
| Mouth | ), (, D, P, | | Smile, frown, grin, tongue, or neutral tone. |
Emoticon, kaomoji, or emoji?
A Western emoticon such as :-) is usually tilted sideways. A kaomoji such as (◕‿◕) is normally read upright and may use a wider range of Unicode characters. An emoji such as 😊 is a standardized Unicode character or sequence drawn by the receiving platform.
Choose the form that fits the space. Emoticons work well in plain text and retro-style conversation. Kaomoji allow more detailed text expressions. Emoji are easier to scan on modern devices but can look different across platforms. The guide to emoji, emoticons, and kaomoji compares all three.
Use text faces without confusing the message
- Write the important message in words first.
- Add one face where tone needs a small clue.
- Preview backslashes, repeated spaces, and complex faces after pasting.
- Avoid relying on a wink or smile to repair a rude or unclear sentence.
Accessibility tip
Screen readers may announce punctuation one character at a time or skip it, depending on settings. Keep instructions, decisions, warnings, and emotional support understandable without the text face. Read the emoji and emoticon accessibility guide for practical examples.
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
What is an emoticon?
An emoticon is a face or gesture built from ordinary text characters. A classic Western emoticon such as :-) is usually read sideways.
What is the difference between an emoticon and an emoji?
An emoticon is typed from punctuation, letters, or numbers. An emoji is a Unicode pictograph or sequence that the device renders with artwork.
Why do some emoticons include a hyphen?
The hyphen acts as a nose in forms such as :-) and :-(. Shorter versions such as :) and :( usually communicate the same basic expression.
Do emoticons look the same on every device?
They use text rather than vendor emoji artwork, but fonts and spacing can still change their shape. Preview complicated faces where you plan to post them.
Are emoticon meanings universal?
No. Familiar patterns provide clues, but tone still depends on the words, relationship, community, and situation.