:P

What Does :P Mean?

The Quick Answer

:P means "Sticking Tongue Out."

More Detail...

This icon is typically used when the writer is being cheeky or playful. When typed, the colon represents the eyes, and the "P" represents a mouth with a protruding tongue. The icon is also commonly seen with a nose or with a winking eye:

• :-P (tongue sticking out, with nose)
• ;P (tongue sticking out, with winking eye)

Similar icons include:

• :'( (crying)
• /: (flirting)
• :$ (embarrassed)
• :& (tongue tied)
• :* (kiss)
• :@ (angry)
• :| (disapproval or not funny)
• :< (frowning)
• :> (mischievous smile)
• :0 (surprised)

Image for :P

When I write :P, I mean this:

eyes (:) and a mouth and tongue (P)

I know all about icons. Test me!

Summary of Key Points

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

:P
Definition:	Sticking Tongue Out
Type:	Icon
Guessability:	2: Quite easy to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Examples of :P in Sentences

Here are examples of :P in conversations:

• Janet: You beat me in the English test!
• Simon: :P.

• Kurt Vonnegut: If your brains were dynamite, there wouldn't be enough to blow your hat off.
• Jill: I don't wear a hat :P.

An Academic Look at :P

As it is a pictorial representation, :P is classified as an icon.

What Did We Say before Texting and Social Media?

Before the digital era, we might have said something like "up yours" (in a playful tone) instead of :P.

Example of :P Used in a Text

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