UwU: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Stylized uwu emoticon.svg|thumb|Stylized ''uwu'' emoticon as a [[blushing]] face|class=skin-invert-image]]

'''''uwu''''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|uː|w|uː|audio=LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-uwu.wav}}), also stylized '''''UwU''''', is an [[emoticon]] representing a [[cuteness|cute]] face. The ''u'' characters represent closed eyes, while the ''w'' represents a cat mouth.<ref name="dictionary.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/uwu/|title=uwu|work=[[Dictionary.com]] Unabridged|date=2020-02-12 |publisher=[[Random House]]|access-date=2021-06-04|archive-date=2021-12-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215154609/https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/uwu/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="dailydot">{{cite web |last1=Turner |first1=Amy-Mae |title=What does 'uwu' mean? |url=https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/what-does-uwu-mean/ |work=[[The Daily Dot]] |access-date=2021-06-04 |date=2019-05-26 |archive-date=2021-11-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121125359/https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/what-does-uwu-mean/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It is used to express various warm, happy, or affectionate feelings.

'''''uwu''''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|uː|w|uː|audio=LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-uwu.wav}}), also stylized '''''UwU''''', is an [[emoticon]] representing a [[cuteness|cute]] face. The ''u'' characters represent closed eyes, while the ''w'' represents a cat mouth. It is used to express various warm, happy, or affectionate feelings.

== Usage and variants ==

The emoticon ''uwu'' is often used to denote cuteness (''[[kawaii]]''), happiness, or tenderness.~~<ref name="dailydot" /><ref name="rae" />~~ Excessive usage of the emoticon can also have the intended effect of annoying its recipient.~~<ref name="studybreaks" />~~ It is popularly used in the [[furry fandom]].~~<ref name="dailydot" /><ref name=grammarbrain/>~~

The emoticon ''uwu'' is often used to denote cuteness (''[[kawaii]]''), happiness, or tenderness. Excessive usage of the emoticon can also have the intended effect of annoying its recipient. It is popularly used in the [[furry fandom]].

=== OwO ===

The emoticon also has a more surprised and sometimes allusive variant, ''owo'' (also stylized ''OwO''; {{IPAc-en|ˈ|oʊ|w|oʊ|audio=LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-owo.wav}}; also associated with the furry fandom) that may also denote cuteness, as well as curiosity and perplexion (often the response "what's this?").<ref name="dailydot" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=People Have Discovered This Weird Furry Meme Is An Actual Word And It's Making Them Scream|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/krishrach/people-have-discovered-owo-is-an-actual-word-and-its-making|access-date=2021-07-25|website=BuzzFeed News|date=2017-10-30 |language=en|archive-date=2021-11-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121123734/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/krishrach/people-have-discovered-owo-is-an-actual-word-and-its-making|url-status=live|first=Rachael|last=Krishna}}</ref> ''owo'' gained popularity in 2018;<ref name="grammarbrain">{{Cite web |date=2022-09-15 |title="OwO" Meaning-Definition, Uses, Examples |url=https://grammarbrain.com/owo-meaning/?adlt=strict&toWww=1&redig=19691598EEE845E58CCD579E575E2426 |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=GrammarBrain}}</ref> as opposed to ''uwu'', the ''o'' characters represent open eyes.~~<ref name="grammarbrain" />~~ It is also sometimes used for [[trolling]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leonard |first=Antonia |date=2022-05-31 |title=What Is Ow And Owo? |url=https://communityliteracy.org/what-is-ow-and-owo/?adlt=strict&toWww=1&redig=6D309C7826574B95877DF10D4E26DFDE |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=CLJ}}</ref>

The emoticon also has a more surprised and sometimes allusive variant, ''owo'' (also stylized ''OwO''; {{IPAc-en|ˈ|oʊ|w|oʊ|audio=LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-owo.wav}}; also associated with the furry fandom) that may also denote cuteness, as well as curiosity and perplexion (often the response "what's this?"). ''owo'' gained popularity in 2018; as opposed to ''uwu'', the ''o'' characters represent open eyes. It is also sometimes used for [[trolling]].

The OwO variant was found inscribed on the used bullet in the investigation of the [[assassination of Charlie Kirk]] on September 10, 2025.<ref name="Nguyen-2025">{{cite web |last=Nguyen |first=Tina |date=September 12, 2025 |title=Charlie Kirk's alleged killer scratched bullets with a Helldivers combo and a furry sex meme |url=https://www.theverge.com/politics/777313/charlie-kirks-alleged-killer-scratched-bullets-with-a-helldivers-combo-and-a-furry-sex-meme |access-date=September 13, 2025 |work=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

=== TwT ===

Another variant, ''TwT'', is often used to symbolize crying, with each T representing a closed eye with tears streaming down.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keshav |date=2020-01-29 |title=TwT – Meaning, Origin, Usage |url=https://digitalcultures.net/emotes/twt/ |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=DigitalCultures |language=en-US}}</ref>

Another variant, ''TwT'', is often used to symbolize crying, with each T representing a closed eye with tears streaming down.

== History ==

The emoticon ''uwu'' is known to date back as far as April 11, 2000, when it was used by [[Furry Fandom|furry]] artist Ghislain Deslierres in a post on the furry art site VCL (Vixen Controlled Library).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Deslierres |first=Ghislain |date=2000-04-11 |title=VCL - Ghislain-Deslierres |url=http://us.vclart.net/vcl/Artists/Ghislain-Deslierres/index02-by-date.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217225306/http://us.vclart.net/vcl/Artists/Ghislain-Deslierres/index02-by-date.html |archive-date=2021-02-17 |access-date=2023-04-23 |work=[[Vixen Controlled Library|VCL]] |language=en}}</ref> A 2005 [[anime]] [[fanfiction]] contained another early use of the word. The origin of the term is unknown, with many people believing it to originate in [[chat room|Internet chat rooms]]. By 2014, the emoticon had spread across the Internet into [[Tumblr]], becoming an [[Subculture|Internet subculture]].<ref name="studybreaks">{{cite web |last1=Srinivasan |first1=Janani Mangai |title=The Origin and Spread of 'UWU' — The Word That Epitomizes Cuteness |url=https://studybreaks.com/tvfilm/the-origin-of-the-word-uwu/ |work=Study Breaks |access-date=June 4, 2021 |date=2020-02-22 |archive-date=2021-11-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121123823/https://studybreaks.com/tvfilm/the-origin-of-the-word-uwu/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The emoticon ''uwu'' is known to date back as far as April 11, 2000, when it was used by [[Furry Fandom|furry]] artist Ghislain Deslierres in a post on the furry art site VCL (Vixen Controlled Library). A 2005 [[anime]] [[fanfiction]] contained another early use of the word. The origin of the term is unknown, with many people believing it to originate in [[chat room|Internet chat rooms]]. By 2014, the emoticon had spread across the Internet into [[Tumblr]], becoming an [[Subculture|Internet subculture]].

The word ''uwu'' is included in the [[Royal Spanish Academy]]'s word observatory,{{Efn|The word observatory is a website owned by the Royal Spanish Academy featuring words that are not included in the ''[[Diccionario de la lengua española]]'' and that have not been considered for inclusion, but for which people have wanted to know the meaning, including technical terms, neologisms, and foreign words.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Morales|first=Manuel|date=2020-10-23|title=La RAE presenta su nueva web, con un 'Observatorio' de palabras que no están en el 'Diccionario'|url=https://elpais.com/cultura/2020-10-23/la-rae-presenta-su-nueva-web-con-un-observatorio-de-palabras-que-no-estan-en-el-diccionario.html|access-date=June 4, 2021|work=[[El País]]|language=es|archive-date=2021-07-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705171521/https://elpais.com/cultura/2020-10-23/la-rae-presenta-su-nueva-web-con-un-observatorio-de-palabras-que-no-estan-en-el-diccionario.html|url-status=live}}</ref>}} defined as an "emoticon used to show happiness or tenderness".<ref name="rae">{{Cite web|title=uwu|url=http://www.rae.es/observatorio-de-palabras/uwu|access-date=2021-06-04|website=Observatorio de palabras de la Real Academia Española|language=es|archive-date=2021-07-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705171523/https://www.rae.es/observatorio-de-palabras/uwu|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mouse |date=2020-10-28 |title=La RAE aclaró las dudas boomers sobre 'uwu' |trans-title=The RAE clarified boomers' doubts about 'uwu' |url=https://www.latercera.com/mouse/la-rae-aclaro-las-dudas-boomers-sobre-uwu/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705171521/https://www.latercera.com/mouse/la-rae-aclaro-las-dudas-boomers-sobre-uwu/ |archive-date=2021-07-05 |access-date=2021-06-04 |work=[[La Tercera]] |language=es}}</ref>

The word ''uwu'' is included in the [[Royal Spanish Academy]]'s word observatory,{{Efn|The word observatory is a website owned by the Royal Spanish Academy featuring words that are not included in the ''[[Diccionario de la lengua española]]'' and that have not been considered for inclusion, but for which people have wanted to know the meaning, including technical terms, neologisms, and foreign words.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Morales|first=Manuel|date=2020-10-23|title=La RAE presenta su nueva web, con un 'Observatorio' de palabras que no están en el 'Diccionario'|url=https://elpais.com/cultura/2020-10-23/la-rae-presenta-su-nueva-web-con-un-observatorio-de-palabras-que-no-estan-en-el-diccionario.html|access-date=June 4, 2021|work=[[El País]]|language=es|archive-date=2021-07-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705171521/https://elpais.com/cultura/2020-10-23/la-rae-presenta-su-nueva-web-con-un-observatorio-de-palabras-que-no-estan-en-el-diccionario.html|url-status=live}}</ref>}} defined as an "emoticon used to show happiness or tenderness".

==See also==

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 {{DISPLAYTITLE:''uwu''}}
 [[File:Stylized uwu emoticon.svg|thumb|Stylized ''uwu'' emoticon as a [[blushing]] face|class=skin-invert-image]]
-'''''uwu''''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|uː|w|uː|audio=LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-uwu.wav}}), also stylized '''''UwU''''', is an [[emoticon]] representing a [[cuteness|cute]] face. The ''u'' characters represent closed eyes, while the ''w'' represents a cat mouth.<ref name="dictionary.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/uwu/|title=uwu|work=[[Dictionary.com]] Unabridged|date=2020-02-12 |publisher=[[Random House]]|access-date=2021-06-04|archive-date=2021-12-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215154609/https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/uwu/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="dailydot">{{cite web |last1=Turner |first1=Amy-Mae |title=What does 'uwu' mean? |url=https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/what-does-uwu-mean/ |work=[[The Daily Dot]] |access-date=2021-06-04 |date=2019-05-26 |archive-date=2021-11-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121125359/https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/what-does-uwu-mean/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It is used to express various warm, happy, or affectionate feelings.
+'''''uwu''''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|uː|w|uː|audio=LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-uwu.wav}}), also stylized '''''UwU''''', is an [[emoticon]] representing a [[cuteness|cute]] face. The ''u'' characters represent closed eyes, while the ''w'' represents a cat mouth. It is used to express various warm, happy, or affectionate feelings.
 == Usage and variants ==
-The emoticon ''uwu'' is often used to denote cuteness (''[[kawaii]]''), happiness, or tenderness.<ref name="dailydot" /><ref name="rae" /> Excessive usage of the emoticon can also have the intended effect of annoying its recipient.<ref name="studybreaks" /> It is popularly used in the [[furry fandom]].<ref name="dailydot" /><ref name=grammarbrain/>
+The emoticon ''uwu'' is often used to denote cuteness (''[[kawaii]]''), happiness, or tenderness. Excessive usage of the emoticon can also have the intended effect of annoying its recipient. It is popularly used in the [[furry fandom]].
 === OwO ===
-The emoticon also has a more surprised and sometimes allusive variant, ''owo'' (also stylized ''OwO''; {{IPAc-en|ˈ|oʊ|w|oʊ|audio=LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-owo.wav}}; also associated with the furry fandom) that may also denote cuteness, as well as curiosity and perplexion (often the response "what's this?").<ref name="dailydot" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=People Have Discovered This Weird Furry Meme Is An Actual Word And It's Making Them Scream|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/krishrach/people-have-discovered-owo-is-an-actual-word-and-its-making|access-date=2021-07-25|website=BuzzFeed News|date=2017-10-30 |language=en|archive-date=2021-11-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121123734/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/krishrach/people-have-discovered-owo-is-an-actual-word-and-its-making|url-status=live|first=Rachael|last=Krishna}}</ref> ''owo'' gained popularity in 2018;<ref name="grammarbrain">{{Cite web |date=2022-09-15 |title="OwO" Meaning-Definition, Uses, Examples |url=https://grammarbrain.com/owo-meaning/?adlt=strict&toWww=1&redig=19691598EEE845E58CCD579E575E2426 |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=GrammarBrain}}</ref> as opposed to ''uwu'', the ''o'' characters represent open eyes.<ref name="grammarbrain" /> It is also sometimes used for [[trolling]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leonard |first=Antonia |date=2022-05-31 |title=What Is Ow And Owo? |url=https://communityliteracy.org/what-is-ow-and-owo/?adlt=strict&toWww=1&redig=6D309C7826574B95877DF10D4E26DFDE |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=CLJ}}</ref>
+The emoticon also has a more surprised and sometimes allusive variant, ''owo'' (also stylized ''OwO''; {{IPAc-en|ˈ|oʊ|w|oʊ|audio=LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-owo.wav}}; also associated with the furry fandom) that may also denote cuteness, as well as curiosity and perplexion (often the response "what's this?"). ''owo'' gained popularity in 2018; as opposed to ''uwu'', the ''o'' characters represent open eyes. It is also sometimes used for [[trolling]].
-The OwO variant was found inscribed on the used bullet in the investigation of the [[assassination of Charlie Kirk]] on September 10, 2025.<ref name="Nguyen-2025">{{cite web |last=Nguyen |first=Tina |date=September 12, 2025 |title=Charlie Kirk's alleged killer scratched bullets with a Helldivers combo and a furry sex meme |url=https://www.theverge.com/politics/777313/charlie-kirks-alleged-killer-scratched-bullets-with-a-helldivers-combo-and-a-furry-sex-meme |access-date=September 13, 2025 |work=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>
 === TwT ===
-Another variant, ''TwT'', is often used to symbolize crying, with each T representing a closed eye with tears streaming down.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keshav |date=2020-01-29 |title=TwT – Meaning, Origin, Usage |url=https://digitalcultures.net/emotes/twt/ |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=DigitalCultures |language=en-US}}</ref>
+Another variant, ''TwT'', is often used to symbolize crying, with each T representing a closed eye with tears streaming down.
 == History ==
-The emoticon ''uwu'' is known to date back as far as April 11, 2000, when it was used by [[Furry Fandom|furry]] artist Ghislain Deslierres in a post on the furry art site VCL (Vixen Controlled Library).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Deslierres |first=Ghislain |date=2000-04-11 |title=VCL - Ghislain-Deslierres |url=http://us.vclart.net/vcl/Artists/Ghislain-Deslierres/index02-by-date.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217225306/http://us.vclart.net/vcl/Artists/Ghislain-Deslierres/index02-by-date.html |archive-date=2021-02-17 |access-date=2023-04-23 |work=[[Vixen Controlled Library|VCL]] |language=en}}</ref> A 2005 [[anime]] [[fanfiction]] contained another early use of the word. The origin of the term is unknown, with many people believing it to originate in [[chat room|Internet chat rooms]]. By 2014, the emoticon had spread across the Internet into [[Tumblr]], becoming an [[Subculture|Internet subculture]].<ref name="studybreaks">{{cite web |last1=Srinivasan |first1=Janani Mangai |title=The Origin and Spread of 'UWU' — The Word That Epitomizes Cuteness |url=https://studybreaks.com/tvfilm/the-origin-of-the-word-uwu/ |work=Study Breaks |access-date=June 4, 2021 |date=2020-02-22 |archive-date=2021-11-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121123823/https://studybreaks.com/tvfilm/the-origin-of-the-word-uwu/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
+The emoticon ''uwu'' is known to date back as far as April 11, 2000, when it was used by [[Furry Fandom|furry]] artist Ghislain Deslierres in a post on the furry art site VCL (Vixen Controlled Library). A 2005 [[anime]] [[fanfiction]] contained another early use of the word. The origin of the term is unknown, with many people believing it to originate in [[chat room|Internet chat rooms]]. By 2014, the emoticon had spread across the Internet into [[Tumblr]], becoming an [[Subculture|Internet subculture]].
-The word ''uwu'' is included in the [[Royal Spanish Academy]]'s word observatory,{{Efn|The word observatory is a website owned by the Royal Spanish Academy featuring words that are not included in the ''[[Diccionario de la lengua española]]'' and that have not been considered for inclusion, but for which people have wanted to know the meaning, including technical terms, neologisms, and foreign words.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Morales|first=Manuel|date=2020-10-23|title=La RAE presenta su nueva web, con un 'Observatorio' de palabras que no están en el 'Diccionario'|url=https://elpais.com/cultura/2020-10-23/la-rae-presenta-su-nueva-web-con-un-observatorio-de-palabras-que-no-estan-en-el-diccionario.html|access-date=June 4, 2021|work=[[El País]]|language=es|archive-date=2021-07-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705171521/https://elpais.com/cultura/2020-10-23/la-rae-presenta-su-nueva-web-con-un-observatorio-de-palabras-que-no-estan-en-el-diccionario.html|url-status=live}}</ref>}} defined as an "emoticon used to show happiness or tenderness".<ref name="rae">{{Cite web|title=uwu|url=http://www.rae.es/observatorio-de-palabras/uwu|access-date=2021-06-04|website=Observatorio de palabras de la Real Academia Española|language=es|archive-date=2021-07-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705171523/https://www.rae.es/observatorio-de-palabras/uwu|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mouse |date=2020-10-28 |title=La RAE aclaró las dudas boomers sobre 'uwu' |trans-title=The RAE clarified boomers' doubts about 'uwu' |url=https://www.latercera.com/mouse/la-rae-aclaro-las-dudas-boomers-sobre-uwu/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705171521/https://www.latercera.com/mouse/la-rae-aclaro-las-dudas-boomers-sobre-uwu/ |archive-date=2021-07-05 |access-date=2021-06-04 |work=[[La Tercera]] |language=es}}</ref>
+The word ''uwu'' is included in the [[Royal Spanish Academy]]'s word observatory,{{Efn|The word observatory is a website owned by the Royal Spanish Academy featuring words that are not included in the ''[[Diccionario de la lengua española]]'' and that have not been considered for inclusion, but for which people have wanted to know the meaning, including technical terms, neologisms, and foreign words.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Morales|first=Manuel|date=2020-10-23|title=La RAE presenta su nueva web, con un 'Observatorio' de palabras que no están en el 'Diccionario'|url=https://elpais.com/cultura/2020-10-23/la-rae-presenta-su-nueva-web-con-un-observatorio-de-palabras-que-no-estan-en-el-diccionario.html|access-date=June 4, 2021|work=[[El País]]|language=es|archive-date=2021-07-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705171521/https://elpais.com/cultura/2020-10-23/la-rae-presenta-su-nueva-web-con-un-observatorio-de-palabras-que-no-estan-en-el-diccionario.html|url-status=live}}</ref>}} defined as an "emoticon used to show happiness or tenderness".
 ==See also==