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Unicode: 1F4DF
Description
A dark grey or black rectangular speech bubble with three dots inside, typically used to indicate that someone is typing a message.
Group:
Objects > phone
Status:
fully-qualified
Emotion:
Anticipation, suspense, waiting, or acknowledging an ongoing conversation.
Backstory
While not an official emoji in initial Unicode versions, this symbol became ubiquitous through its use in messaging applications (like iMessage, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger) to visually represent when another user is actively composing a message. It was officially added to Unicode as a U+1F4DF (SPEECH BUBBLE WITH DOTS) in Unicode 6.0 (2010), representing the visual cue seen across many platforms.
Usage Examples
- Used by messaging apps: '... (user is typing)'
- Humorous: 'My crush is typing... this better be good! 🤔'
- Indicating a pause: 'Just a sec, typing this out... 💬'
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Universally understood as 'typing' or 'seen' indicator in messaging apps. Can evoke slight impatience or curiosity.
East Asian culture:
Similar interpretation as 'typing' or 'seen'. May also subtly imply that a thoughtful or long message is being prepared.