๐ค face with thermometer Emoji โ Meaning, Copy & Paste
Quick info
- Unicode
- U+1F912
- Shortcode
:face-with-thermometer:- Category
- Smileys & Emotion
- Subcategory
- unwell
- Added in
- Unicode 1.0
- Also known as
- sick face emoji, fever emoji, thermometer face emoji, flu emoji
What Does the face with thermometer Emoji ๐ค Mean?
Slightly slumped face with a thermometer poking out of the mouth, eyes looking unwell โ ๐ค is the universal symbol for "I have a fever and feel terrible." It's specifically about being sick, more so than the broader masked-face emoji, because the thermometer pretty much only points one direction: temperature, illness, bed rest required.
In texting, ๐ค reads as a clear sick signal. Used when calling in sick to work, updating concerned friends, or generally announcing that the day is canceled because of illness. "Caught whatever's been going around ๐ค" โ that's the canonical use. The thermometer makes the meaning unambiguous in a way the simpler ๐ท doesn't, since the mask emoji can mean precaution too.
It also works for parents updating about sick kids, partners sending sympathy, or anyone narrating a long sick day. "Day three of this flu, send help ๐ค." The slumped expression underneath the thermometer adds to the misery โ this isn't a mild case, this is full bed-and-soup territory.
There's a wry humor angle as well. "Can't make it to your wedding I'm sick ๐ค" is also the emoji of slightly suspect excuses. The thermometer makes the claim feel more legitimate, even when everyone involved knows the speaker just doesn't want to go. That dual quality โ sincere illness and theatrically performed illness โ gives ๐ค broader range than its straightforward design suggests.
On TikTok and Instagram, ๐ค turns up in sick-day vlogs, recovery posts, and "day in the life of being miserable" content. Twitter/X uses it heavily during cold and flu season when group sickness becomes a shared experience.
Apple shows a face with a clear thermometer extending from the mouth and visible flushed cheeks. Google's version is similar, slightly brighter. Samsung's leans rounder. All three communicate fever-illness instantly.
Emoji 1.0 added ๐ค in 2015, expanding the unwell-face category beyond just ๐ท. It's been a steady chat staple for sick days ever since.
Use ๐ค for fevers, flu, being sick at home, sick-day excuses, and any moment where you want to communicate "I am unwell" without a paragraph of explanation.
How to Use ๐ค face with thermometer Emoji
“Calling out today, fever is real ๐ค”
“Day three of this flu and I'm losing ๐ค”
“Kid's running a temp again, no school today ๐ค”
Technical Details
| Unicode | U+1F912 |
| HTML Entity | 🤒 |
| CSS Code | \1F912 |
| Shortcode | :face-with-thermometer: |
| Keywords | face, ill, sick, thermometer, with |
| Unicode Version | 1.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does ๐ค mean?
The ๐ค emoji means sick with a fever or flu. The thermometer in the mouth makes the meaning unambiguous โ it's about being genuinely unwell, often with a temperature involved.
What's the difference between ๐ค and ๐ท?
๐ค has a thermometer and depicts being sick with a fever โ it's about being unwell. ๐ท wears a medical mask and can mean either being sick or taking precautions against getting sick. The thermometer is more specifically about illness.
