8-)

What Does 8-) Mean?

The Quick Answer

The emoticon 8-) means "Cool," "Okay," or "Happy."

More Detail...

8-) is an emoticon of a smiling face with sunglasses. (Of note, emoticons are different to emojis, which are digital images or icons to express emotions or ideas.)

An emoticon usually portrays a human expression. Another version of 8-) is 8). The term "cool" describes a relaxed, confident and fashionable person. It can also mean that someone is at ease with a situation (i.e., okay with it). (For example: He was cool with my tattoo.) The term "cool" derives from the youth culture of the 1950s and 1960s.

Image for 8-)

When I write 8-), I mean this:

8-) means cool, okay, or happy.

Summary of Key Points

"Cool," "Okay," or "Happy" is, by far, the most common meaning for 8-) when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)

8-)
Definition:	Cool, Okay, or Happy
Type:	Icon
Guessability:	4: Difficult to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Examples of 8-) in Sentences

Here are examples of 8-) in conversations:

• Tony: I've just found out that I got that job 8-).
• Jordan: That's great news.

• Tony: I asked Sarah on a date and she said yes. 8-)
• Jordan: Good on you.

An Academic Look at 8-)

8-) is classified by our team as an "internet slang term" as opposed to an initialism abbreviation or an acronym. Initially, "internet slang terms" were introduced for brevity, but, particularly with the advent of predictive texting and on-screen keyboards, they are now mostly employed for fun. "Slang terms" differ from icons because they are not pictorial representations. 8-) is typically used as an adjective (i.e., a describing word). For example:

• I'm feeling so 8-).

What Did We Say before Texting and Social Media?

Before the digital era, we would have just said "Cool," "Okay," or "Happy" instead of 8-).

Using Numbers in Texts

This video shows the different ways that numbers are used in "text speak":

Example of 8-) Used in a Text

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