🫢 Emoji Name: “Face with Open Eyes and Hand Over Mouth”
What does 🫢 mean?
The “Face with Open Eyes and Hand Over Mouth” emoji 🫢 represents surprise, shock, embarrassment or being caught off guard. It depicts a neutral face with wide-open eyes and a hand covering the mouth, often symbolizing a reaction to unexpected news or a realization. Approved in 2021 as part of Unicode 14.0 and added to Emoji 14.0, this emoji is frequently used to express feelings of astonishment, disbelief or playfully pretending to be shocked.
Emoji Overview
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Emoji | 🫢 |
| Name | Face with Open Eyes and Hand Over Mouth |
| Unicode | Unicode 14.0 (2021) |
| Emoji Version | Emoji 14.0 |
| Category | Smileys & Emotion |
| Subcategory | Face Neutral Skeptical |
| Keywords | surprised, shocked, embarrassed, caught off guard, disbelief, gossip |
Usage and Interpretation
Expressing shock, embarrassment or playful reactions
The 🫢 emoji is versatile and can be used in different ways depending on the situation. Here’s how it is commonly interpreted:
1. Shock or Surprise
This emoji is often used when someone is caught off guard by unexpected news or events.
Example:
“Wait… you’re telling me they’re dating?! 🫢”
2. Embarrassment or Feeling Exposed
It can also represent feeling embarrassed after realizing a mistake or when someone gets caught in an awkward situation.
Example:
“I just waved at someone who wasn’t waving at me… 🫢”
3. Playful or Dramatic Reactions
Sometimes 🫢 is used in a lighthearted or exaggerated way to pretend to be shocked or amused.
Example:
“You mean to tell me I’ve been singing the wrong lyrics this whole time?! 🫢”
4. Guilt or Secret-Keeping
The hand-over-mouth gesture can indicate trying to keep a secret or feeling guilty about something.
Example:
“Oops… I wasn’t supposed to say that! 🫢”
Cultural Significance and Digital Use
A Symbol of Reacting to the Unexpected
The 🫢 emoji visually represents a natural human reaction covering the mouth in surprise or embarrassment. Whether it’s from hearing shocking news, making a mistake or playfully exaggerating a situation, this emoji captures a wide range of emotions.
Common Uses in Digital Communication
🫢 is widely used in texting, social media and online conversations when reacting to surprising, funny or slightly embarrassing situations.
Popular usage includes:
✔ Responding to gossip or unexpected information
✔ Expressing embarrassment after making a mistake
✔ Playfully pretending to be shocked
✔ Reacting to funny or awkward moments
How the 🫢 Emoji is Used in Different Contexts
1. In Personal Communication
This emoji is commonly used in texts to show shock, surprise or mild embarrassment in casual conversations.
Example:
“I just realized I forgot my best friend’s birthday… 🫢”
2. On Social Media
🫢 is frequently used in reaction posts, tweets and comments, often in response to surprising news or memes.
Examples of social media usage:
✔ “Did you see what just happened at the awards show?! 🫢”
✔ “I can’t believe I’ve been mispronouncing that word my whole life… 🫢”
Difference Between 🫢 and Similar Emojis
Some people confuse 🫢 with other emojis expressing similar emotions. Here’s how they compare:
| Emoji | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 😲 | Astonished Face – Expresses extreme shock or amazement. |
| 🤭 | Face with Hand Over Mouth – Usually represents giggling, a playful secret, or a shy reaction. |
| 😯 | Hushed Face – Indicates mild surprise, but in a calmer way than 🫢. |
| 🫣 | Face with Peeking Eye – Represents curiosity mixed with nervousness or embarrassment. |
Key Difference: 🫢 vs. 🤭
| Feature | 🫢 (Face with Open Eyes and Hand Over Mouth) | 🤭 (Face with Hand Over Mouth) |
|---|---|---|
| Emotion | Genuine surprise, shock, or mild embarrassment | Playful reaction, giggling, or secret-keeping |
| Eyes | Wide open (more surprised) | Closed or squinting (more playful) |
| Common Usage | Reacting to unexpected news, mild embarrassment, or realization | Laughing at something mischievous or teasing |
| Example | “I can’t believe I just did that… 🫢” | “I just saw something hilarious but I won’t say it… 🤭” |
What Does 🫢 Mean from Different People?
What does 🫢 mean from a girl?
When a girl uses the 🫢 emoji, it might mean:
- She is genuinely surprised by something unexpected.
- She is embarrassed about something small.
- She is playfully reacting to gossip or funny news.
- She is hinting at a secret or something she’s hesitant to reveal.
Example:
“Omg… you won’t believe what I just found out! 🫢”
What does 🫢 mean from a guy?
When a guy uses the 🫢 emoji, it often means:
- He is reacting to shocking or funny news.
- He is expressing slight embarrassment.
- He is playfully pretending to be surprised.
- He is acknowledging that he made a mistake.
Example:
“Bro… I just realized I sent that text to the wrong person. 🫢”
Conclusion
The “Face with Open Eyes and Hand Over Mouth” emoji 🫢 is a versatile and expressive way to show shock, embarrassment, guilt or playfulness. Whether reacting to unexpected news, making a realization or engaging in lighthearted gossip, this emoji adds a fun and relatable tone to digital conversations.
With its frequent use in texting, memes, and social media reactions, 🫢 has quickly become a go-to emoji for conveying surprise, slight awkwardness and playful drama. So, the next time you hear something shocking or realize you made a funny mistake, just use 🫢!