uwu

See also: UwU and üwü

Translingual

English Wikipedia has an article on:

uwu

Wikipedia

Alternative forms

• UwU

Etymology

u (closed eye) + w (curled mouth) + u (closed eye)

Pronunciation

• English:
  • IPA^(key): /ˈuːwuː/, /ˈʊwʊ/, [ˈʉː.w̟ʉw]

  • Audio (US):

    (file)

  • Rhymes: -uːwuː
• Norwegian: IPA^(key): /¹ʉːʋʉ/
• Polish:
  • IPA^(key): /ˈu.vu/, /ˈu.wu/
  • Rhymes: -uvu, -uwu
  • Syllabification: u‧wu
• Spanish: IPA^(key): /ˈuwu/, /ˈuɣu/

Symbol

uwu

1. (often humorous) An emoticon representing an innocent, cutesy smiley face with a cat-like smile and closed eyes.
   • 2020, “Cat Girls Are Ruining My Life!”, performed by Corpse Husband:

     Fine lass, nice ass, cat ears and she uwu, uh.

Usage notes

• The emoticon experienced a resurgence in popularity in 2018 and 2019 in connection with the furry fandom; either sincerely (but humorously) by furries themselves or ironically in the context of teasing of furries.

See also

• owo
• :3
• 🥺

English

Alternative forms

• UwU

Etymology

From translingual uwu

Pronunciation

• English:
  • IPA^(key): /ˈuːwuː/, /ˈʊwʊ/, [ˈʉː.w̟ʉw]

  • Audio (US):

    (file)

  • Rhymes: -uːwuː

Adjective

uwu (comparative more uwu, superlative most uwu)

1. (Internet slang) Innocently, often cloyingly cute.
   • 2021 September 9, Erin Nicole Celletti and Sara Delgado, “Chloe x Halle Style Evolution”, in Teen Vogue‎:

     This Kiss graphic tee x fishnet top moment was very UwU of the duo.

   • 2024 June 19, Bagehot, “Britain’s Conservatives are losing as they governed. Meekly”, in The Economist‎:

     UwU Conservativism, and the end of smol government

   • 2024 November 26, Tory Shepherd, “‘What many of us feel’: why ‘enshittification’ is Macquarie Dictionary’s word of the year”, in The Guardian‎:

     Or Instagram, where cute dog videos once reigned. Now, yet another unfathomable algorithm serves up a diet of tradwives, gym bros and uwu girls.

Derived terms

• uwuing
• uwu speak
• uwu speech

Baruga

Alternative forms

• uβu, ubu

Noun

uwu

1. water

Further reading

• J. Smallhorn, The Binanderean Languages of Papua New Guinea: Reconstruction and Subgrouping (2011, Canberra: Pacific Linguistics)
• K. A. McElhanon, C. L. Voorhoeve, The Trans-new Guinea Phylum: Explorations in Deep-level Genetic Relationships (1970, Canberra: Pacific Linguistics)