The Laughing Emoji You're Looking For
Need to express that something is absolutely hilarious? You've come to the right place.
Also known as:
Face with Tears of Joy Emoji, Crying Laughing Emoji, LOL Emoji
Unicode: U+1F602
Find the Perfect Laugh for Any Situation
Different moments call for different kinds of laughter. Choose your vibe - any laughing emoji.
Rolling on the Floor Laughing
For when it's absolutely hysterical.
Grinning Squinting Face
For pure, joyful laughter.
Grinning Face with Smiling Eyes
The classic, friendly chuckle.
Smiling Face with Sweat
The nervous or 'phew!' laugh.
Skull Emoji
The Modern Laugh: How Gen Z says 'I'm dead' from laughing.
Slightly Smiling Face
The Sarcastic Laugh: When you're laughing on the inside... or not at all.
Cat with Tears of Joy
For joyful laughter, especially if you're a cat person.
Skull and Crossbones
Represents literal danger, poison, or pirates.
Loudly Crying Face
Used ironically for laughing so hard you're crying.
Face with Hand Over Mouth
The coy giggle, a playful 'oops,' or a hint of shock.
ðŊ Pro Tip: Laughing Emoji Combos That Hit Different
The Great Emoji Divide: Is the ð Emoji Out of Style?
There's a generational split happening in the emoji world. Here's what you need to know about Laughing Emojis.
Millennials & Up: A Timeless Classic
For Millennials and older generations, ð is the go-to symbol for genuine, hearty laughter. It's sincere, direct, and universally understood.
"Classic and timeless!"
- âĒ It's the OG laughing emoji
- âĒ Perfect for everything funny
- âĒ Why fix what isn't broken?
- âĒ Clear emotional expression
Gen Z: A Little... Cringe?
For many in Gen Z, ð can feel overused or even insincere, like something your parents would send. They often prefer more hyperbolic skull (ð).
"ð is so cringe now"
- âĒ ð means "I'm dead" (from laughing)
- âĒ More ironic and hyperbolic
- âĒ ð feels like something parents use
- âĒ Skull emoji is the new standard
The History of Laughing Emojis
How today's iconic symbols for laughter made their way into our digital lives.
Both the "Face with Tears of Joy" ð and "Skull" ð emojis were introduced as part of the same release: Unicode 6.0 in October 2010. While they have different generational connotations today, they share the same origin in the Unicode Standard.
ð Face with Tears of Joy
Unicode Version: 6.0
Emoji Version: 1.0 (2015)
This emoji was standardized in Unicode 6.0, enabling it to be used across platforms. It exploded in popularity and was later officially recognized as part of Emoji 1.0. Its rise was so meteoric that it was famously named the Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year in 2015.
ð Skull
Unicode Version: 6.0
Emoji Version: 1.0 (2015)
Originally included in proprietary emoji sets from Japanese mobile carriers, the skull emoji was also adopted into Unicode 6.0 in 2010. While its initial meaning was tied to death and danger, it has more recently been co-opted, especially by Gen Z, to express "dying" from laughter.
The Unrivaled Popularity of 'Face with Tears of Joy'
Hard data and cultural accolades show just how dominant the ð emoji became.
The popularity of the "Face with Tears of Joy" emoji is supported by extensive evidence, from academic recognition to massive social media data, cementing its status as a titan of digital communication.
The Highest Cultural Recognition
One of the most compelling pieces of evidence is its selection as the Oxford Dictionaries' Word of the Year in 2015. This marked the first time a pictograph received the honor. Oxford chose it to recognize the symbol that best reflected the ethos, mood, and preoccupations of 2015, based on research showing its usage had skyrocketed.
Overwhelming Usage Data
Vast amounts of statistical data also reveal the emoji's ubiquity:
- Global Dominance: Studies have consistently shown it to be the most used emoji globally. As of 2021, the Unicode Consortium reported that ð accounted for over 5% of all emoji use, far surpassing any other.
- Social Media King: Platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram all confirmed at various points that ð was the most-used emoji on their services. In 2015, it was used 6.6 billion times on Twitter alone.
- Tech Giants' Confirmation: Apple revealed in 2017 that ð was the most popular emoji among English speakers in the US.
In summary, the immense success of the "Face with Tears of Joy" emoji is not just reflected in its endorsement by prestigious cultural institutions but is fundamentally rooted in the choices made by billions of users in their daily digital interactions.
How to Type Laughing Emojis Like a Pro
Stop copying and pasting. Learn the shortcuts and level up your emoji game.
On Windows
Press Windows key and period together
On Mac
Three keys for emoji magic
On Mobile
Tap the smiley face on your keyboard