This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman
. Janice is a professional and creative writer who has worked at wikiHow since 2019. With both a B.A. and M.A. in English from East Stroudsburg University, she has a passion for writing a wide variety of content for anyone and everyone. In her free time, you can find her working on a new crochet pattern, listening to true crime podcasts, or tackling a new creative writing project.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
This article has been viewed 531,968 times.
Learn more...
Ah, the classic 🙃 (upside-down) emoji—this face seems to be popping up everywhere, from your social media feeds to your personal text convos. But what exactly does this enigmatic emoticon mean? You’ve come to the right article! We’ve put together a complete guide to explain the different nuances and uses for this multi-purpose emoji, so you can sprinkle it into your own social media posts and texts.
Steps
What does the 🙃 (upside-down) emoji mean in texting?
-
1Sarcasm and irony: Dry humor is great, but it’s sometimes hard to pick up on in a text. To avoid any miscommunication, some people use the 🙃 as a tone indicator to show that they aren’t being serious. It’s a sleeker, less awkward alternative to the backslash tone indicators that some people end their messages with, like “/s” and “/j.” [1] X Research source
-
2Humor: The 🙃 emoji isn’t meant to be taken seriously. In fact, a lot of people toss a 🙃 at the end of a blatantly silly or joking text to lighten the mood even more. [2] X Research sourceAdvertisement
-
3Exasperation: The 🙃 emoji offers a subtle, more passive-aggressive way for people to share their annoyance without breaking out the heavy hitters like 😠, 😡, or 🤬. It sends a message like “I’m frustrated” or “This is inconvenient for me,” rather than “I’m super pissed off.”
-
4Embarrassment: Few emojis can channel the sheer mortification of an embarrassing moment like the upside-down face. Falling asleep in class? Send a 🙃. Texting the wrong person? Send a 🙃. The more humiliating the moment, the more emojis people tend to use.
What does the 🙃 (upside-down) emoji mean in flirting?
-
1They’re trying to keep things cool and subtle. Flirting can be super nerve-wracking, especially if you can’t rely on the other person’s body language cues at all. If you recently sent a playful compliment or flirtatious remark, the other person might have sent the 🙃 emoji to keep things cool. [3] X Research source
- You:
“Counting down the minutes until I can see you again!”
Them: 🙃
- You:
“Counting down the minutes until I can see you again!”
-
2
-
3They’re trying to tone down the conversation. Maybe you start talking about taking your relationship to the next level. If the other person sends a 🙃 back in reply, they may not be ready to have that conversation just yet. [5] X Research source
- You:
“So, are you ready to make things official?”
Them: “I’m not sure. Maybe? 🙃”
- You:
“So, are you ready to make things official?”
How do you use the 🙃 (upside-down) emoji?
-
1Use it to finish off a sarcastic quip. Let your friends know that you’re totally surprised to hear about the completely unexpected thing that happened to them. Better yet, stick a 🙃 in a reply to your dad to let him know how super funny his jokes are. [6] X Research source
- “Wow, I’ve never heard that one before. 🙃”
- “Did you come up with that all by yourself? 🙃”
-
2Share an awkward or mortifying moment with this emoji. You can’t undo the humiliation, but you sure can channel it somewhere else! Dish what happened to your friends and loved ones, finishing off your message with a trademark 🙃.
- “Accidentally walked in on someone in the bathroom…🙃🙃🙃”
- “Just called my teacher ‘mom.’ I’m ready to launch myself into the sun 🙃🙃”
- “Just realized I’ve been wearing my shirt inside-out all day 🙃”
-
3Vent your frustrations with a few 🙃. Feeling ticked off but not totally furious? The 🙃 emoji is a great way to get all that irritation out of your system with the tap of a finger.
- “The bank told me they’d send my check 2 months ago, and my mailbox is still empty 🙃”
- “A customer flipped out at me during my shift today. I’m so done 🙃🙃”
- “Prof assigned a 10-page reading when there’s already an essay due tomorrow🙃”
-
4Drop a 🙃 to express acceptance over an unfortunate fate. Overslept your alarm, or missed your train into work? The 🙃 emoji has you covered in all sorts of unpleasant scenarios. Slap one at the end of your message to share the bad news; it is what it is, right?
- “Forgot I had a paper due tomorrow. Guess I’m not getting any sleep tonight! 🙃”
- “Spilled coffee on my shirt right before I left for work. Oh well! 🙃”
-
5
-
6Give your text some petty flair with a 🙃. Okay, it’s never really a good idea to be petty in your texts. But if you’re really feeling passive-aggressive, you might as well be upfront about it. The 🙃 emoji has you covered! [8] X Research source
- “Sure, I can cover for you. It’s not like I’ve closed the store the last 3 nights in a row or anything. 🙃”
- “I heard she got into a really good college. I’m so happy for her 🙃🙃”
How to Respond to a 🙃 (upside-down) Emoji
-
1Offer a “sorry” if they’re having a rough time. If someone shoots you a text with the 🙃 emoji, there’s a good chance that they’re feeling frustrated or embarrassed. Take a second to let them know that you feel their pain.
- “Sorry to hear that. Sending you good vibes!”
- “Wow, that’s rough. Wishing you the best!”
- “That really sucks. I’m pulling for you!”
-
2Send a 😬, 🤣, or 😂 in acknowledgment. The 😬 is a perfect response to someone sharing an awkward or embarrassing moment with the 🙃 emoji. If you can’t quite get a read on the conversation, stick with a classic 🤣 or 😂 instead.
-
3Change the subject if things get weird. The 🙃 emoji can definitely lighten the mood, but it can’t completely erase any weird, uncomfortable vibes from a conversation. If you don’t feel like addressing their original 🙃 message, feel free to change the subject.
- “Anyway, did you catch that new TV episode last night?”
- “Have you finished the Spanish homework yet? I’m totally stuck.”
- “I heard we’re supposed to get snow this weekend.”
Community Q&A
-
QuestionWhat does 🙃mean in simple words?Starlight MelodyCommunity AnswerThe 🙃 emoji can mean a lot of things but typically is used to keep the mood light.Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Video
Tips
You Might Also Like
References
- ↑ https://www.theverge.com/2016/1/17/10777102/upside-down-smile-emoji-sarcasm-ambiguity
- ↑ https://www.scienceofpeople.com/emojis/
- ↑ https://www.theodysseyonline.com/savage-smiles
- ↑ https://www.forgettingfairytales.com/flirty-emojis-guys-use-to-flirt/
- ↑ https://www.theodysseyonline.com/savage-smiles
- ↑ https://www.scienceofpeople.com/emojis/
- ↑ https://www.theodysseyonline.com/savage-smiles
- ↑ https://www.theodysseyonline.com/savage-smiles