How to Type the Slanted Smiley Face ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
The slanted smiley face, famously known as Lenny Face, is a popular emoticon used in online chats, forums, and social media to express playful, suggestive, or sarcastic emotions. Unlike traditional straight emoticons like : ) or :D, the Lenny Face is characterized by its slanted eyes and distinctive nose, giving it a quirky and mischievous appearance. The most common version is ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°), but there are many creative variations. If you’ve ever wondered how to type this emoticon quickly, you’re not alone—many people struggle with finding the right characters and getting the spacing just right. Fortunately, there are several easy methods to create or paste the slanted smiley face, whether you’re on a computer, smartphone, or tablet. Below, we’ll cover step-by-step instructions, keyboard shortcuts, and handy tools to master this internet classic.
Step-by-Step Guide to Typing the Slanted Smiley Face Manually
Typing the Lenny Face manually requires a combination of special characters, but once you understand the structure, it becomes straightforward. The classic ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) is built using parentheses, spaces, and Unicode symbols like the degree sign (°), the Greek letter lambda (ʖ), and the left and right parentheses. How do you access these special characters on different devices? On a Windows PC, you can use the Alt key codes or the Character Map utility. For example, the degree symbol (°) can be typed by holding Alt and typing 0176 on the numeric keypad. On a Mac, you can use the Option key combinations or the Emoji & Symbols viewer. For mobile users, installing a special keyboard app or copying and pasting from a saved list is often the fastest solution. Here’s a breakdown of the manual process:
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Start with an opening parenthesis: (
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Add a space, then the left eye: ͡° (This is a combined character: “͡” followed by “°”).
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Add the nose: ͜ʖ (Another combined character: “͜” followed by “ʖ”).
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Add the right eye: ͡° again.
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Close with a parenthesis and space: ** )**.
Getting the spacing right is key to making the face look balanced. Many users prefer to copy and paste from a reliable source to avoid formatting issues.
Copy and Paste Method: The Quickest Solution
For those who don’t want to memorize complex keyboard shortcuts, the copy and paste method is the easiest way to use the slanted smiley face. You can simply copy the emoticon from a website, note, or dedicated Lenny Face generator and paste it into your desired platform—whether it’s Discord, Twitter, Instagram, or WhatsApp. Below is a table of popular slanted smiley face variations that you can copy directly:
Popular Slanted Smiley Face (Lenny Face) Variations
| Emoticon | Name/Description | Common Use |
|---|---|---|
| ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) | Classic Lenny Face | Suggestion, mischief, playful tone |
| ¯_(ツ)_/¯ | Shrug Face | Indifference, “I don’t know” |
| ( ͡~ ͜ʖ ͡°) | Wink Lenny | Flirting, playful teasing |
| ( ͡º ͜ʖ ͡º) | Wide-Eyed Lenny | Exaggerated surprise or innocence |
| ( ͡☉ ͜ʖ ͡☉) | Stunned Lenny | Shock, disbelief |
| ಠ_ಠ | Look of Disapproval | Disdain, skepticism |
To use these, highlight the emoticon you want, press Ctrl+C (Cmd+C on Mac) to copy, and then Ctrl+V (Cmd+V) to paste it into your chat or post. This method ensures perfect formatting every time and is supported on almost all devices and apps.
Essential Kaomoji Character Reference Table (2026)
| Character | Name / Origin | Common Kaomoji Usage | Represents |
|---|---|---|---|
| ツ | Katakana Letter Tu | (ツ) ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ |
Smiling, smug, or mischievous eyes. |
| シ | Katakana Letter Si | (シ) (シ_ _)シ |
Winking, tearful, or droopy eyes. |
| ヮ | Katakana Letter Small Wa | ◕ヮ◕ |
Cute, wide-eyed happiness. |
| ಠ | Kannada Letter Ttha | ಠ_ಠ |
Disapproval, suspicion, or staring. |
| ◕ | Geometric Shape | ◕‿◕ |
Innocent, blank, or cute eyes. |
| ﾉ | Halfwidth Katakana No | ヽ(◕◡◕)ﾉ |
A waving or raised arm. |
| ヽ | Katakana Iteration Mark | ヽ(´▽)/` | An arm in a celebratory pose. | |
|
| ー | Prolonged Sound Mark | （＾ー＾） |
A smiling mouth. |
| ﹏ | Wavy Dash | （´﹏）` | A worried or wavy mouth. | |
|
| 卍 | Swastika (East Asian symbol) | (Contextual use) | Sometimes used for edgy or spinning motions. |
| ╯ | Box Drawing Character | ╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻ |
An arm in table-flipping memes. |
Using Online Tools and Keyboard Apps for Slanted Smileys
If you frequently use emoticons like the slanted smiley face, consider using online tools or custom keyboard apps designed for this purpose. Websites like LennyFaceGenerator.org or CopyPasteCharacter.com offer huge libraries of pre-made emoticons that you can copy with a single click. For mobile users, apps like SwiftKey (Android/iOS) or Gboard (Google Keyboard) allow you to create custom text shortcuts. For example, you could set the shortcut “:lenny:” to automatically expand into ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) whenever you type it. How does this improve your typing speed and consistency? These tools save time and eliminate the hassle of remembering complex character combinations. Additionally, many gaming and chat platforms like Discord have built-in emoji pickers that may include some text-based emoticons, though the classic Lenny Face often needs to be pasted manually.
Troubleshooting Common Issues with Slanted Smiley Faces
Sometimes, the slanted smiley face may not appear correctly after you type or paste it. Why does this happen? The most common issue is font or platform compatibility. The Lenny Face relies on specific Unicode characters that may not be supported by every font or older software. If the face looks broken (e.g., boxes or question marks appear), try switching to a more modern platform or app. Another issue is incorrect spacing—if the eyes and nose are misaligned, the face may look disjointed. To fix this, ensure you’re using the exact characters from a reliable source. On social media sites like Facebook or Twitter, the emoticon usually renders correctly, but some messaging apps may strip out special characters. If all else fails, sending the emoticon as an image or screenshot is a foolproof workaround.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Slanted Smileys and Kaomoji
Q: What is the difference between (ツ) and (シ)?
A: The key difference is in the eye slant. (ツ) uses the Katakana “tsu,” which has upward-slanting ticks, conveying a smug, happy, or grinning expression. (シ) uses the Katakana “shi,” which has downward-slanting ticks, typically conveying a winking, crying, or contentedly closed-eye expression.
Q: How do I type these characters on my English keyboard?
A: You don’t need a Japanese keyboard. The easiest methods are: 1) Using a Kaomoji copy-paste website or dedicated app. 2) Enabling the Windows Touch Keyboard or Emoji Panel (Windows key + .) which often includes a Kaomoji section. 3) Using text replacement shortcuts on your phone or computer for your favorite ones.
Q: Are slanted smileys like ツ still popular, or are they replaced by emoji?
A: They remain immensely popular in specific communities (gaming, anime, tech forums) where they offer more nuance and style than standard emoji. Emoji are universal but generic; a well-crafted Kaomoji carries personality, nostalgia, and artistic effort that a simple 😊 does not.
Q: What does the “Look of Disapproval” (ಠ_ಠ) mean?
A: The ಠ_ಠ emoticon, using the Kannada letter “ಠ,” represents a face staring directly at the viewer with intense skepticism, disapproval, or judgment. It’s a meme staple used to react to foolish, awkward, or questionable statements.
Q: Is it cultural appropriation to use Kaomoji?
A: Kaomoji are generally considered a form of shared internet culture. Their use is widely accepted as a creative, cross-cultural language of the web. The key is to use them respectfully and understand their intended tone, not as a mockery of the source language.
Creative Uses and Cultural Meaning of the Slanted Smiley Face
The slanted smiley face is more than just a fun emoticon—it carries a specific cultural meaning in internet slang. Originally popularized on forums like 4chan and Reddit, ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) is often used to imply innuendo, sarcasm, or a knowing look. How do you use it effectively without confusing your audience? It’s best employed in informal, humorous contexts among friends or online communities familiar with meme culture. For example, pairing it with a double-entendre joke can enhance the punchline. Beyond text, the Lenny Face has inspired merchandise, digital art, and variations like the “Table Flip” emoticon (┬─┬ ノ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡° ノ)). Its versatility and distinct look have cemented its place in internet history as a symbol of playful digital communication.
Keywords: slanted smiley face, Lenny Face, ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°), how to type Lenny Face, copy and paste emoticons, keyboard shortcuts for emoticons, special character codes, online emoticon generator, Unicode symbols, internet slang emoticons
Disclaimer: The methods and tools described in this article are intended for general informational purposes. The availability of specific Unicode characters and the correct rendering of emoticons may vary depending on your device, operating system, software version, and platform. Some websites or applications may block or alter special characters for security or formatting reasons. The author and publisher are not responsible for any issues arising from the use of the provided information, including but not limited to compatibility errors or miscommunication in digital conversations.