:3

What Does :3 Mean?

The Quick Answer

:3 is an emoticon which represents a coy smile.

More Detail...

The emoticon :3 is used in texting and online chat to indicate a coy smile. For example:

• Ali: Would you like to go for a drink with me tonight? :3.
• Lee: I was hoping you would ask. :3.

:3 is said to represent the cat face made by Anime characters when they say something cute.

Image for :3

When I write :3, I mean this:

:3 is an emoticon that represents a coy smile.

I know all about icons. Test me!

Summary of Key Points

"Coy Smile" is, by far, the most common meaning for :3 when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)

:3
Definition:	Coy Smile
Type:	Emoticon
Guessability:	3: Guessable
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

An Academic Look at :3

:3 is classified as an emoticon. Emoticons are a way to show emotion in text-based communication. They consist of a small group of symbols arranged to show emotions, such as happiness, sadness, anger, and others, using the letters, numbers, and symbols usually found on a standard keyboard in a typographic approximation. Emoticons have largely been made redundant on most messaging apps, as users now have access to a large number of emojis and most emoticons are automatically replaced with the corresponding emoji. Happy emoticons are alternatively known as a "smileys" or "smiley faces."

Example of :3 Used in a Text

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