Side Eye Emoji โ The Real Answer ๐ซฅ
There's no single emoji called 'side eye' โ but if you've seen one in a TikTok or DM, it's almost certainly one of these six. Here's how to tell them apart.
Why isn't there a 'side eye' emoji?
Unicode names emojis by what they depict, not what people use them for. 'Side eye' is a behavioral expression โ distrust, doubt, judgment โ that doesn't map to one official emoji. Different platforms and creators pick whichever face their audience recognizes. The shortlist below covers 95% of real-world usage.
The 6 best 'side eye' candidates
Ranked by how often people actually use each one to mean side eye. Click any card to read the full meaning page or copy the emoji.
- ๐ซฅ#1Face with Diagonal MouthClosest match
The newest pick (Unicode 14.0, 2021). One eye higher, mouth slanted โ looks dubious, indecisive, side-eye-coded. Becoming the consensus 'official' side eye.
- ๐#2Unamused FaceClassic skeptic
Eyes shifted to one side with a flat mouth. Long-standing 'so over this' / 'are you serious?' reaction.
- ๐#3Face with Rolling EyesStrong side eye
Eyes literally rolled upward and to the side. The most dramatic form โ closer to disdain than skepticism.
- ๐#4EyesSubtle / sus
Pair of disembodied eyes glancing sideways. Used when something looks juicy, suspicious, or 'I see what you did there'.
- ๐#5Smirking FaceFlirty side eye
Half-smile, eyebrow up, looking off-center. The flirtatious side eye โ suggestive rather than judgmental.
- ๐คจ#6Face with Raised EyebrowMild side eye
One brow up, eyes deadpan. The 'oh really?' look โ questioning without escalating to judgment.
When to use side eye emojis
Reacting to drama ๐ต
Someone shared gossip and you're side-eyeing the receipts. ๐ซฅ or ๐ fit best.
Expressing doubt
Friend claims something suspicious โ ๐ or ๐คจ says 'sure, Jan' without typing it out.
Subtle flirting
๐ is the universally-understood flirty side eye in DMs. Lower stakes than ๐.
Silent judgment
When you have opinions but choose not to share. ๐ + a pause speaks volumes.
Text-based side eye
Pre-emoji users invented these โ still popular in usernames and bios.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an official side eye emoji?
No. Unicode names emojis by what they look like, not what people use them for. The closest official names are 'Face with Diagonal Mouth' ๐ซฅ and 'Unamused Face' ๐.
Which side eye emoji does TikTok use?
TikTok creators use a mix, but ๐ (eyes) and ๐ซฅ (diagonal mouth) appear most in side-eye contexts. The ๐ซฅ became popular after Unicode 14.0 dropped in 2021.
Does the side eye emoji look different on iPhone vs Android?
Slightly. The ๐ซฅ 'face with diagonal mouth' was designed differently by each platform โ Apple's version is more visibly off-center than Google's. The ๐ unamused face is also more sideways on Apple.
What's the difference between side eye ๐ซฅ and eye roll ๐?
๐ซฅ is skepticism โ 'I'm not sure about this'. ๐ is dismissal โ 'I'm definitely not sure about this and I'm done humoring you'. Eye roll is more confrontational.
How do I type a side eye emoji?
On iOS/Mac: Cmd+Ctrl+Space โ search 'unamused' or 'diagonal'. On Windows: Win+. โ same. On Slack/Discord: type :unamused: or :face_with_diagonal_mouth:.
What does it mean when someone sends ๐ซฅ?
Depends on tone โ usually skepticism, mild distrust, or 'really?' energy. Rarely outright anger; more often a 'hmm' than a 'how dare you'.
More emoji decoded
Browse the full emoji dictionary or jump to similar 'real meaning' pages.