What Does a Coy Smile Mean (and Is It Flirty)? Interpretations & Examples

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Plus, find out if being coy is positive or negative

Co-authored by Asa Don Brown, PhD, DNCCM, FAAETS and Marcus Pruitt, BS

Last Updated: May 7, 2025 Fact Checked

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What is a coy smile?

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Why People Give Coy Smiles

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Is a coy smile flirting?

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Responding to a Coy Smile

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Is being coy positive or negative?

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Other Types of Smiles

Have you ever gotten a coy little smile from someone and wondered what they meant by that? If so, you’re not alone. Coy smiles can be a bit confusing because they can mean different things, but it’s generally a sign that someone is taking an interest in you, either to be friendly or to flirt. In this article, we explain the different meanings behind a coy smile, how to respond to a coy smile, and more.

What does a coy smile mean?

A coy smile is a small, shy smile that usually comes off as sweet, innocent, or flirty. If someone smiles coyly at you, it usually means they're interested in you in some way. This interest may be platonic or romantic, depending on your relationship and the context of the situation.

Section 1 of 6:

What is a coy smile?

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A coy smile is a shy, modest smile that only shows the lips (no teeth). A coy smile can be slightly mysterious, bashful, or even flirty, and it typically means the person is interested in you in some way. With a coy smile, the lips slightly perk upward to bring out the cheeks without showing the teeth.^{[1]
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- Leonardo da Vinci’s popular Mona Lisa painting even depicts a woman with a coy smile, and it’s historically renowned for its beauty!
- Depending on the situation, people may coyly smile to express kindness and break the ice, show interest in you, or to hide their intentions.
- In some cases, a coy smile can mean the person is only pretending to be shy for attention, which not everyone appreciates.

Section 2 of 6:

Why People Give Coy Smiles

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A coy smile is generally a sign of interest, albeit subtle and ambiguous. When someone smiles coyly at you, it typically means they’re interested in you, whether it be romantically or as a friend. Some people smile coyly to deliberately evade or withhold the fact that they like you, even if it means faking shyness. On the other hand, some people can’t help but coyly smile, whether it’s because they’re shy or because they find you funny, interesting, or attractive.^{[2]
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- A coy smile doesn’t always mean someone is romantically interested in you. They may just be shy and friendly.
- When babies give coy smiles, it typically indicates that they’re emotionally reactive and socially aware, which is an important social function.^{[3]
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To break any tension in the room, someone may coyly smile at you to let you know that they’re friendly and kind. When you’re in a breakout room and nobody is talking, someone may coyly smile to break the ice. People may also give you a coy smile when they pass you on the street to let you know they’re friendly.
A coy smile doesn’t always denote positive shyness. Someone may smile coyly when they know something and they’re deliberately withholding the information from you, which can either be cute, manipulative, or just plain annoying. For example, if you ask your friend to get information on your crush and they come back smiling coyly, they may have found out something that they’re trying to keep from you.

Section 3 of 6:

Is a coy smile flirting?

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A coy smile can be friendly or flirtatious, but it depends on the context. A coy smile can be considered flirting in some situations, but not all the time. It depends on the context of the situation and your relationship with the person. For example, if you’re waiting for a job interview and the receptionist gives you a coy smile, they’re probably just being friendly. But, if you get a coy smile at a party or bar, they may be trying to make a move.^{[4]
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- Flirty Example: Someone keeps eyeing you from across the room, catches you looking, gives a coy smile, then comes up to start a conversation.
- Friendly Example: You and a bunch of people are talking about a card game you all like, you make a joke that makes the group laugh, and someone gives you a coy smile.

Section 4 of 6:

How to Respond to a Coy Smile

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When someone gives you a coy smile, they’re typically trying to be friendly. They may be trying to show that they’re interested in you or they may be trying to break any ice or tension. Either way, when someone smiles at you, the friendly thing to do is smile back. This opens the door for conversation and can help you two introduce yourselves to one another.^{[5]
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Section 5 of 6:

Is being coy positive or negative?

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Depending on the context it’s used in, the word coy has different connotations. When it refers to a cute, artful playfulness or cute shyness, the connotation is typically positive. For example, if someone says that you act coy to get their attention by doing things like playfully throwing a ball of paper at them or poking them when they aren’t listening, they’re saying that you use cute, playful tricks to get their attention.^{[6]
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In some cases, coy can be used to describe someone who is reluctant to commit to things or deceitful about whether or not they’re actually willing to do something. For example, if you ask for someone to help you move and they respond by saying something like “Oh, I might be able to but I’m not sure. It depends on a few things, but I really want to help. So I can let you know,” that would be a coy response.^{[7]
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Section 6 of 6:

Other Types of Smiles

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Dampened smile A dampened smile is a toned down genuine smile. While genuinely happy smiles are celebrated today, they were historically frowned upon. In 17th century Europe, it was considered improper to display your full emotions, so many people employed the dampened smile to stay in good graces socially. A dampened smile is a slightly open-mouthed smile with raised cheeks and pressed lips.^{[8]
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- In 17th century Europe, it was believed that only poor people smiled with their teeth showing.
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Embarrassed smile An embarrassed smile is as it sounds, a smile that displays feelings of embarrassment. It typically features flushed cheeks and a downward tilting head. If you’re unsure if someone’s flashing an embarrassed smile, reflect on the situation that preceded the smile and whether or not it was embarrassing for them.^{[9]
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Fake smile A fake smile tends to be abrupt and lingering. In some cases, it may happen too soon or long after the phrase that invoked it was spoken. A fake smile doesn’t have one particular look, but it tends to seem out of place or insincere.^{[10]
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Contemptuous smile A contempt smile, also known as a smile of contempt, indicates feelings of disgust and resentment. It is characterized by a tightened lip corner that’s only raised on one side of the face.^{[11]
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