You've seen it. You've probably used it after a long night out or when someone tells a joke that’s just a little too "dad" for its own good. It’s the one eye squint emoji, officially known in the Unicode Standard as the "Winking Face with Tongue" or sometimes the "Squinting Face with Tongue," depending on which specific variation pops up in your keyboard's search bar. But here’s the thing: emojis aren't just tiny pictures. They are a legitimate linguistic evolution, and this specific one is a chaotic neutral force in our digital conversations.
Emojis don't always mean what the designers intended. Honestly, when Apple or Google drops a new set of icons, they have a specific use case in mind, but the internet is a wild place. We take these symbols and twist them. The one eye squint emoji is the poster child for this gap between intent and reality.
The Technical Anatomy of a Squint
To understand why this emoji feels so specific, we have to look at the Unicode Consortium. They are the gatekeepers. Back in 2010, when Emoji 1.0 was codified, the "Winking Face" (U+1F609) and its tongue-out cousins were established to convey silliness. But the squint—that tight, one-sided contraction of the digital eye—changes the emotional frequency.
When you squint in real life, you’re usually doing one of three things: trying to see better, reacting to a bright light, or signaling skepticism.
In the digital world, the one eye squint emoji often functions as a "softener." If you tell a friend, "You're late," it sounds like a reprimand. If you add the squinting face, it becomes a poke. It says, "I'm annoyed, but I'm not going to ruin our brunch over it." It’s the punctuation of the modern passive-aggressive—or the truly playful.
Why Platforms Change the Vibe
Ever noticed how your emoji looks different when you send it from an iPhone to a Samsung? It’s frustrating. This is because companies like Apple, Google, and Microsoft design their own "fonts" for the same Unicode character.
For a long time, the one eye squint emoji on Samsung devices looked significantly more "wasted" than the Apple version. Apple’s version usually looks more mischievous, while Google’s "blob" era version (RIP) looked like it was in physical pain.
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- Apple: Smooth, polished, looks like it’s mid-joke.
- Samsung: Often has a more exaggerated "scrunched" face.
- WhatsApp: Uses its own proprietary set that leans heavily into the "winking" aspect.
This cross-platform drift matters. You might think you're being cute, but to your recipient on a different device, you might look like you're having a medical emergency.
The "Drunk" Emoji Misconception
There is a long-standing debate in internet culture about whether the one eye squint emoji—specifically the one with the wavy mouth—is meant to represent being intoxicated. In 2018, a specific variation went viral on Twitter (now X) where people labeled it the "Woozy Face."
But the squinting winker is different. It’s more conscious. It’s "I know something you don't know." Or perhaps, "I just did something slightly impulsive and I'm waiting for your reaction." It’s less about the tequila and more about the audacity.
Dr. Linda Kaye, a cyberpsychologist who specializes in how we use digital symbols, has noted that emojis serve as "non-verbal cues" that replace the hand gestures and facial expressions we lose in text. The squint is the digital equivalent of a shoulder shrug combined with a smirk. It’s nuanced. It’s complicated.
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Cultural Nuances: Not Everyone Sees the Same Face
In Western cultures, we focus on the mouth of an emoji to determine its meaning. Is it smiling? Is it frowning? But in East Asian cultures, the focus is often on the eyes. This is why "kaomoji" (like ^_^) look the way they do.
The one eye squint emoji is a bit of a hybrid. The eye is doing the heavy lifting, but the mouth—whether it's a flat line, a grin, or a tongue—dictates the "flavor" of the squint. If you use the version with the tongue out, you're in the realm of "zany." If it’s just the squint and a slight smile, you're entering "sarcasm" territory.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a gamble.
How to Use It Without Being Weird
Let’s get practical. If you’re using this emoji in a professional setting, stop. Just don’t. There is almost no scenario in a Slack channel with your boss where a one eye squint emoji is the right move. It’s too informal and carries too much "I'm joking... unless?" energy.
However, in dating? It’s a powerhouse. It’s the "teasing" emoji.
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- The "Call Out": When they say something slightly ridiculous.
- The "Inside Joke": Referencing that thing that happened three months ago.
- The "Doubt": When someone claims they "only had one drink."
It’s a low-stakes way to build rapport.
The Future of the Squint
As we move into 2026, we’re seeing more "animated" emojis and Memoji-style reactions. The static one eye squint emoji is becoming a classic, a "vintage" digital expression. It remains popular because it fills a gap that a standard smile or a crying-laughing face can’t touch. It captures the ambiguity of human interaction.
People often ask if there's a "correct" way to use it. There isn't. Linguistics is descriptive, not prescriptive. If everyone starts using the squint to mean "I'm confused," then that's what it means. Right now, it’s the king of "playful skepticism."
Actionable Steps for Digital Communication
If you want to master the art of the squint, keep these three things in mind. First, check your platform. If you're on an Android sending to an iPhone, remember that your expression might be exaggerated. Second, consider the "Mouth Factor." If your squinty eye is paired with a tongue, you are being "silly." If it’s paired with a smirk, you’re being "flirty" or "snarky."
Finally, use it sparingly. Like any strong seasoning, too much squinting makes you look like you’re trying too hard to be "the funny one."
To ensure your message lands perfectly, try pairing the emoji with a short, punchy sentence. This removes the ambiguity. Instead of just sending the face, send "Sure you did [emoji]." It clarifies the sarcasm and keeps the tone light without leaving your friend wondering if you’re actually mad. Understanding the visual shorthand of the one eye squint emoji isn't just about being "online"—it's about becoming a better communicator in a world that increasingly talks in pixels rather than words.
Next Steps for Emoji Mastery:
- Check your "Frequently Used" drawer to see if you rely on the squint as a crutch for awkward silences.
- Compare how the emoji renders on your desktop versus your mobile device to see the design discrepancy.
- Experiment with pairing the squint with different punctuation; a squint plus a question mark feels very different than a squint plus a period.