uwu
Translingual
Alternative forms
Etymology
u (closed eye) + w (curled mouth) + u (closed eye)
Pronunciation
- English:
- IPA(key): /ˈuːwuː/, /ˈʊwʊ/, [ˈʉː.w̟ʉw]
Audio (US): (file) - Rhymes: -uːwuː
- Norwegian: IPA(key): /¹ʉːʋʉ/
- Polish:
- IPA(key): /ˈu.vu/, /ˈu.wu/
- Rhymes: -uvu, -uwu
- Syllabification: u‧wu
- Spanish: IPA(key): /ˈuwu/, /ˈuɣu/
Symbol
uwu
- An emoticon representing an innocent, cutesy smiley face with a cat-like smile and closed eyes.
- 2020, “Cat Girls Are Ruining My Life!”, performed by Corpse Husband:
- Fine lass, nice ass, cat ears and she uwu, uh.
Usage notes
- The emoticon experienced a resurgence in popularity in 2018 and 2019 in connection with the furry fandom; either sincerely (but humorously) by furries themselves or ironically in the context of teasing of furries.
See also
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From translingual uwu
Pronunciation
- English:
- IPA(key): /ˈuːwuː/, /ˈʊwʊ/, [ˈʉː.w̟ʉw]
Audio (US): (file) - Rhymes: -uːwuː
Adjective
uwu (comparative more uwu, superlative most uwu)
- (Internet slang) Innocently, often cloyingly cute.
- 2021 September 9, Erin Nicole Celletti and Sara Delgado, “Chloe x Halle Style Evolution”, in Teen Vogue[1]:
- This Kiss graphic tee x fishnet top moment was very UwU of the duo.
- 2024 June 19, Bagehot, “Britain’s Conservatives are losing as they governed. Meekly”, in The Economist[2]:
- UwU Conservativism, and the end of smol government
- 2024 November 26, Tory Shepherd, “‘What many of us feel’: why ‘enshittification’ is Macquarie Dictionary’s word of the year”, in The Guardian[3]:
- Or Instagram, where cute dog videos once reigned. Now, yet another unfathomable algorithm serves up a diet of tradwives, gym bros and uwu girls.
Derived terms
Baruga
Alternative forms
Noun
uwu
Further reading
- J. Smallhorn, The Binanderean Languages of Papua New Guinea: Reconstruction and Subgrouping (2011, Canberra: Pacific Linguistics)
- K. A. McElhanon, C. L. Voorhoeve, The Trans-new Guinea Phylum: Explorations in Deep-level Genetic Relationships (1970, Canberra: Pacific Linguistics)