The term "owo" has multiple meanings depending on context:
- In internet and fandom culture, especially among furries and anime fans, "owo" is an emoticon representing a cute face with open eyes (the "o"s) and a cat-like mouth (the "w"). It is often used to express cuteness, curiosity, or surprise, sometimes with a playful or trolling intent.
- In a very different context, "OWO" is an initialism for "oral without," referring to performing oral sex without a condom, mainly used in prostitution contexts.
- On some internet forums or casual chats, "owo" can also be a playful expression denoting excitement or curiosity, often related to the emoticon usage.
The emoticon usage is by far the most common online meaning if the term is encountered in general social or fandom contexts. Thus, "owo" most commonly denotes a cute or surprised emoticon face used in internet culture.
