HTML Entity for White Frowning Face (☹)
What You'll Learn
How to display the White Frowning Face symbol (☹) in HTML using hexadecimal, decimal, and CSS escape methods. This character is U+2639 (WHITE FROWNING FACE) in the Miscellaneous Symbols block (U+2600–U+26FF)—a classic outline sad-face emoticon.
Render it with ☹, ☹, or CSS escape \2639. There is no named HTML entity. Do not confuse ☹ with ☺ (white smiling face) or modern emoji like 🙁 (slightly frowning face).
⚡ Quick Reference — White Frowning Face
U+2639Miscellaneous Symbols
☹Hexadecimal reference
☹Decimal reference
—Use numeric codes only
Name Value
──────────── ──────────
Unicode U+2639
Hex code ☹
HTML code ☹
Named entity (none)
CSS code \2639
Meaning White frowning face
Related U+263A = ☺ (white smiling face)
U+263B = ☻ (black smiling face)
U+1F641 = 🙁 (slightly frowning face emoji)
Block Miscellaneous Symbols (U+2600–U+26FF)Complete HTML Example
A simple example showing White Frowning Face (☹) using hexadecimal code, decimal HTML code, and a CSS content escape:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<style>
#face:after{
content: "\2639";
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<p>White Frowning Face (hex): ☹</p>
<p>White Frowning Face (decimal): ☹</p>
<p id="face">White Frowning Face (CSS): </p>
</body>
</html>🌐 Browser Support
U+2639 is supported in modern browsers when the font includes Miscellaneous Symbols glyphs:
👀 Live Preview
See White Frowning Face (☹) in context:
🧠 How It Works
Hexadecimal Code
☹ uses the Unicode hexadecimal value 2639 to display the character. The x prefix indicates hexadecimal format.
Decimal HTML Code
☹ uses the decimal Unicode value 9785 to display the same character. A common method for symbol characters in HTML.
CSS Entity
\2639 is used in CSS stylesheets, particularly in the content property of pseudo-elements like ::before and ::after.
Same visual result
All three methods produce the glyph: ☹. Unicode U+2639 is the white frowning face in Miscellaneous Symbols. Not the same as ☺ (white smiling face) or 🙁 (emoji).
Use Cases
White Frowning Face (☹) is commonly used in:
Posts, comments, and messaging to express sadness or disappointment.
Retro or classic emoticon styling in web content and design.
Blogs, articles, and copy conveying concern or negative mood.
Review forms and ratings to represent negative or unhappy feedback.
Notifications and UI states that convey errors or unhappy outcomes.
Creative layouts, artistic content, and expressive web elements.
Pair ☹ with visible text or aria-label; do not rely on the glyph alone.
💡 Best Practices
Do
- Use ☹ for a classic outline sad face; pair with ☺ for happy/sad contrast
- Pair the face glyph with accessible text like “Sad” or
aria-label - Pick one numeric style (hex or decimal) per project for consistency
- Use fonts that support Miscellaneous Symbols characters
- Test rendering across browsers and devices
Don’t
- Confuse ☹ (white frowning face) with ☺ (white smiling face) or 🙁 (emoji)
- Use the face glyph as the only emotional cue for critical feedback
- Mix entity styles randomly in one file
- Use CSS escape
\2639inside HTML markup - Expect a named HTML entity—none exists for ☹
Key Takeaways
Type ☹ directly, or use hex/decimal references
☹ ☹For CSS stylesheets, use the escape in the content property
\2639Unicode U+2639 — WHITE FROWNING FACE (Miscellaneous Symbols)
U+2639/U+263A are classic sad/happy face pairs in Miscellaneous Symbols
Previous: White Four Pointed Star (✧) Next: White Heart Suit (♡)
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
☹ (hex), ☹ (decimal), or \2639 in CSS content. There is no named HTML entity. In UTF-8 you can also type ☹ directly.U+2639 (WHITE FROWNING FACE). Miscellaneous Symbols block U+2600–U+26FF. Hex 2639, decimal 9785.☹ or ☹) go directly in markup. The CSS escape \2639 is used in stylesheets, typically in the content property of ::before or ::after. Same visual result, different layers of the stack.☹ or ☹ in HTML, or \2639 in CSS.Explore More HTML Entities!
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