v2.0

🫢Face with Open Eyes and Hand Over Mouth EmojiUnicode: 1FAE2

A surprised face with hand over mouth.

Released in This emoji was introduced in Unicode 14.0 in 2021, becoming widely available in 2022 across major platforms like iOS and Android.

shockedsurprisedoh noembarrassedsilenceastonishedstartledgasphand over mouthwide eyes

Meaning and Interpretation

The 🫢 emoji, officially known as 'Face with Open Eyes and Hand Over Mouth', illustrates a face with wide-open eyes and a hand covering the mouth. It typically conveys strong emotions like surprise, shock, disbelief, or embarrassment. This emoji is often used to show a sudden reaction to unexpected news, awkward situations, or attempts to suppress a gasp or exclamation. In digital conversations, it adds a visual layer of authenticity, making reactions feel more relatable and expressive, especially in casual chats where words alone might not capture the intensity.

Symbolism

  • Represents surprise or shock in response to unexpected events, emphasizing a moment of astonishment.
  • Symbolizes an attempt to stay silent or hold back a reaction, like covering a gasp during secretive or awkward moments.
  • Conveys embarrassment or social discomfort, highlighting situations where one feels caught off guard or regrets something said.

Common Usage Scenarios

  • Reacting to surprising news or gossip on social media platforms like Twitter or Instagram.
  • Expressing shock in everyday text conversations, such as when sharing personal stories or hearing juicy details.
  • Indicating embarrassment in humorous exchanges, like in group chats discussing relatable mishaps.

Usage Examples in Conversation

I just found out my favorite band is breaking up! 🫢
Wait, you're quitting your job? 🫢 That's huge news!
Oh man, I accidentally sent that message to the wrong person 🫢
Did you see that plot twist in the movie? 🫢 Mind blown!
That joke was way too funny, but I can't laugh out loud 🫢

Usage Guidelines and Etiquette

  • Use it in informal contexts to avoid misinterpretation in professional or serious discussions.
  • Pair it with other emojis for clarity, as it can sometimes be confused with secrecy or fear.
  • Avoid overusing it in a single conversation to prevent diluting its impact and making responses seem exaggerated.

Related Emojis

😲

Astonished Face

Similar to 🫢, it shows wide-eyed surprise for shocking revelations.

😱

Face Screaming in Fear

Expresses extreme shock or terror, often paired with 🫢 for intense reactions.

🤭

Face with Hand Over Mouth

Indicates secrecy or giggling, closely related to 🫢's hand-over-mouth gesture.

😮

Face with Open Mouth

Conveys awe or surprise, making it a milder alternative to 🫢.

🤯

Exploding Head

Represents mind-blowing shock, complementing 🫢 in overwhelming scenarios.

😳

Flushed Face

Shows embarrassment or nervousness, similar to the awkwardness in 🫢.

😯

Hushed Face

Indicates surprise with silence, echoing 🫢's theme of restraint.

🙈

See-No-Evil Monkey

Symbolizes ignoring embarrassment, which can align with 🫢 in uncomfortable situations.

😦

Frowning Face with Open Mouth

Depicts disappointed shock, offering a variation of 🫢 for negative surprises.

😧

Anguished Face

Conveys distress or shock, providing a more emotional counterpart to 🫢.