😜 Meaning: What the Winking Tongue Emoji Means in a Text

Short answer: 😜 is the winking face with tongue. It means "just kidding", "I'm being silly" or "I'm teasing you". From a crush it is playful, and sometimes flirty. It is more goofy than sexy, so it usually means they feel relaxed around you.

What does 😜 mean?

The official name is Winking Face with Tongue. One eye winks, one eye is wide open and the tongue is out. It looks like a kid making a funny face for a photo.

Common uses:

• Joking: "I'm obviously the better driver 😜"
• Teasing: "someone's grumpy without coffee 😜"
• Being silly: a goofy selfie or a dumb plan
• Softening a cheeky line: "you owe me dinner now 😜"

😜 from a guy vs from a girl

From a guy, 😜 is often how he flirts without being serious. "I bet you can't beat me at Mario Kart 😜" is a playful challenge. Teasing is a classic way to show interest, because it creates a little game between you. If he teases you but stays kind, it is a good sign.

From a girl, 😜 often shows a fun, silly side. If she is goofy with you, she feels comfortable. "Maybe I'll let you buy me ice cream 😜" is a light, flirty test. She is joking, but also not really joking.

😜 vs 😉 vs 😝

These three look similar, but the mood is different:

• 😉 Wink: "you know what I mean". Can be quite flirty.
• 😜 Winking with tongue: silly and cheeky. More playful than flirty.
• 😝 Squinting with tongue: pure goofy. Like "bleh!"
• 😛 Tongue out: cheeky, a bit cute.

😜 in context

• After a joke about you: teasing. Usually friendly and fun.
• After a bold offer: "come cook for me then 😜". A flirty test wrapped in a joke.
• After something a bit mean: "you're so short 😜". The emoji says "no hard feelings".
• 😜😜: extra silly. They are in a good mood.

Replies to 😜

Flirty:

• "careful, I might take you up on that"
• "is that a challenge? because I'll win 😏"

Friendly:

• "lol you wish"
• "ok clown 😂"

Playful:

• "rude. accurate, but rude"
• "say that again and see what happens 😜"

Not interested:

• "haha"
• "ok lol"

What 😜 says about interest

Playful teasing is often a sign that someone wants to keep the chat fun and a bit personal. But some people tease everyone. So look for more: do they tease only you? Do they also ask real questions and want to meet? If they flirt with jokes but never make a plan, that can be one of the mixed signals that keep you guessing.

FAQ

Is 😜 flirty?

It can be. After a cheeky offer or a tease about you, it is often flirty. With friends, it is just silly.

What does 😜 mean from a girl?

She is joking or teasing you. If the joke is about the two of you, there is a good chance she is flirting a little.

Is 😜 rude?

Not usually. It makes a joke feel light. If the words are mean, the emoji doesn't fully fix that.

What is the difference between 😜 and 😉?

😉 is a smoother, more flirty wink. 😜 adds the tongue, so it feels sillier and less serious.