What Does OWO Mean in a Text?
The Quick Answer
OWO is often used used as an emoticon to express happy surprise or excitement. It may also mean "oral without (a condom)."More Detail...
It is probably safer to assume the former, even if you suspect the latter! To help you avoid embarrassing misunderstandings, here is more information about each definition, with examples of use.Emoticon
![image for OwO, showing a happy face emoji](pics/OWO-emoji.png)
OWO is an emoticon used in texting and online chat to convey a sense of happy surprise or excitement. It is normally typed as OwO and represents the cute face of a character with wide-open eyes and a small mouth. It is often used in playful situations. This emoticon is associated with anime and manga culture, and can suggest playful curiosity or an innocent, childlike wonder. For example:
- "That was really 10 years ago?! OwO!"
- "OwO! Sam finally asked me out!"
- "OwO! They are letting him stand again, after inciting an insurrection?!"
Oral Without
![image for OWO, showing condoms with a line through the image](pics/OWO-condoms.png)
In adult chat rooms and certain dating context, OWO may mean "oral without," which implies oral sex without the use of a condom. Beware! The more innocent use of OWO detailed above is far more prevalent in general internet and texting culture. The explicit interpretation is limited to very specific contexts and can cause confusion. For example:
- Lee: "I love OwO. Are you up for it?"
- Bernie: "Definitely! I love Japanese comics! What's your favorite genre?"
Image for OWO
When I write OWO, I mean this:
![meaning of OWO](../x-images/OWO.png)
Beware of embarrassing misunderstandings!
Summary of Key Points for First Definition
Happy surprise or excitement is the most common definition for OwO when it is used as an emoticon in texting and messaging apps like Instagram and TikTok.OWO | |
---|---|
Definition: | Happy Surprise or Excitement |
Type: | Abbreviation |
Guessability: | ![]() 3: Guessable |
Typical Users: | ![]() Adults and Teenagers |
Summary of Key Points for Second Definition
In dating-related chat, OWO may mean "Oral Without."OWO | |
---|---|
Definition: | Oral Without |
Type: | Abbreviation |
Guessability: | ![]() 3: Guessable |
Typical Users: | ![]() Adults and Teenagers |
An Academic Look at OWO
![image for academic look, showing a teacher with a mortar board](pics/academic-look.png)
OWO (and especially OwO) are typically used as an emoticon. Emoticons are a way to show emotion in text-based communication. They consist of a small group of symbols arranged to show emotions, such as happiness, sadness, anger, and others, using the letters, numbers, and symbols usually found on a standard keyboard in a typographic approximation of the desired illustration.
When used with the meaning "oral without," OWO is classified as an initialism abbreviation, as it is pronounced one letter at a time. Other examples of initialisms are:
Initialisms are different to acronyms, which are abbreviations spoken as words.Example of OWO Used in a Text
You might also like...
Help Us Improve Cyber Definitions
- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did you spot a typo?
- Do you know a slang term that we've missed?
Share This Page
![share icon](../images/shareTheLove.webp)
If you like Cyber Definitions (or this page in particular), please link to it or share it with others. If you do, please tell us. It helps us a lot!
Create a QR Code
![create QR code](../images/QRcode.webp)
Use our handy widget to create a QR code for this page...or any page.
next up:
OWNMMore Topics...
emoji library
(send a huge emoji)sex & dating terms
(fine-tune your search)spotting drug abuse
(protect loved ones)saying "I love you"
(learn new ways)encrypting messages
(get sneaky!)gaming terms
(chat like a gamer)spotting grooming
(protect loved ones)numbers in texting
(improve brevity)Spanish slang terms
(get "slangy" in Spanish)using special symbols
(find the codes)coronavirus terms
(remember covidiots)