 - An emoticon is a short sequence of keyboard letters and symbols, usually emulating a facial expression, that complements a text message. An abbreviation itself (of emotion icon), the term is sometimes referred to by the name of the original emoticon, the smiley. Mike Jones, who works in the systems and networking research group at Microsoft's headquarters in Redmond, Washington, has determined that the first smiley was posted on September 19, 1982. One of our contributors says that to read these you can either tilt your head or turn the monitor on its side. If you have a Palm OS or Pocket PC device, we've created a PDA version of this handy reference. Now you can carry over 50 emoticon meanings in the palm of your hand. Download the mobile edition of our Emoticon Reference Guide and start deciphering and conversing in this popular smiley lingo. | :-) | Smile | | ;-) | Smile with a wink | | :<}) | User with mustache, smiling | | :-|| | Mad | | :-( | Sad | | :' -( | Crying | | :~ | Also crying | | :-)) | Really happy | | :-D | Big grin | | :-* | A kiss | | :-P~ | A lick | | :-o | Wow! or I'm surprised | | :-| | Grim | | :-P | Sticking out your tongue | | :- | User happens to be Popeye | | :-/ | Perplexed | | =:O | Frightened (hair standing on end) | | =8O | Bug-eyed with fright | | :-} | Embarassed smile | | :-)<>>>>> | Basic Smiley with a necktie | | ;-^) | Tongue in cheek | | %*@:-( | Hung over | | :-~~~ | Drooling | | >:) | Perplexed look | | .) | Keeping an eye out for you | | 8:-) | Glasses on forehead | | 8:[ | Normal smiling face of a gorilla | | 0:-) | Angel | | ]:-|[ | Robot | | (:V) | Duck | | 3:-o | Cow | | :-] | Vampire | | (_8-(|) | Homer Simpson | | C|:-= | Charlie Chaplin | | =|:-)= | Abe Lincoln | | *<:-) | Santa Claus | | -:-) | User sports a mohawk and admires Mr. T | | (:)-) | Scuba diver | | :-'| | User has a cold | | :-{} | User with heavy lipstick | | :-)8 | User is well dressed | | >:-< | Mad | | *#:-) | Scotsman wearing his Scottish tam | | %-^ | User is another Picasso | | #-) | User partied all night | | <:I | Dunce | | :-| | "Have an ordinary day!" Smiley | | :}{: | Kisses (stolen from June bug) | | oooo(0) (0)oooo | Toes | | (-_-) | Secret smile | | #.-o | "Oh, nooooooo Mr. Bill!!!" | | 12x @>--->--- | A dozen roses |
The Japanese have worked out another set of emoticons that fits the nuances of Japanese culture. See Japanese emoticons. Finally, as a bonus, we share our "nose over fence" (or "Kilroy was here!") with you. To use it, just do a copy and paste, make any minor space adjustments, and add a <pre> tag before it and a </pre> after it. ```/ (o o) --------------------------------------oOO--(_)--OOo------------------
| LAST UPDATED: |
16 Mar 2007
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