uwu

See also: UwU and üwü

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

  1. 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)

  1. (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

  1. water

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)