Perhaps you've been in a chat on Twitch and seen or heard something you thought was dumb or ridiculous, but none of the available emoticons could express how you felt about it. Or maybe you've seen other chat members type '3Head' in the chat and were wondering what that meant.
The truth is that in an open context, it could mean anything. There are many nuanced emotes on Twitch to use and understand, and 3Head is an important term you need when perusing streams.
This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.
Meaning
The 3Head Twitch emote conveys laughter and is used when someone on the stream says or does something unbelievably stupid or ridiculous. The 3Head emote is an exaggeration of the similar 4Head emote, which already means foolish or dumb. However, the 3Head emote propels you one step up from that. It can also be used to say something cheesy and funny, like a Dad joke.
The 3Head emote utilizes a picture of popular League of Legends streamer Cadburry. He is smiling yet has a missing tooth, and his forehead has been edited down by half, making him look as though he doesn't have room for a brain. It is usually spammed in the chat after an uncanny joke or situation.
Users can also spam it when those with British and Scottish accents are present in the conversation. For example, if you have a British or Scottish accent and the topic comes up in the stream, you can notify everyone using the 3Head emote. More information can be found in the video (here).
Example Usage
"If your favorite streamer says something stupid but funny *3Head*"
"Streamer tells a dad joke that was pretty funny *3Head*"
“Hey man, your jokes are really on point this stream, *3Head*, keep it up!”
"Streamer does something unbelievably stupid or embarrassing *3Head*"
“I can’t believe you walked head first into that boss trap! *3Head*"
Origin
The 3Head emote is based on the 4Head emote that was realized two years earlier in 2014 as one of the oldest emotes on Twitch. Both have streamer Cadburry's image and have the same meanings, but 3Head is emphasized to another degree. After 4Head spread quickly, 3Head had no issue finding fame after it was added to FrankerFaceZ on August 18th, 2018, by a user names timmytoina.
Even though it followed the same theme as many other Twitch emotes, where it is derived from editing a pre-existing image, the 3Head emote became so popular that it even received its own dictionary definition in 2019, something that isn't common with Twitch emotes. Usually, they are specific to a particular community and so nuanced that the community using them has no reason to look them up. 3Head received a wide use that extended past its small base on Twitch. Since 2020, it has been seen in about 24,000 emote sets.
Phrases Similar to 3Head
- 4Head
- LULW
- 2Head
- KEKW
- LOL
- LMAO
- Smooth Brain
Phrases Opposite to 3Head
- 5Head
- Smart Apple
- Big Brain
- Wise Guy
- Brainiac
What is the Correct Saying?
- *3HEAD* spammed in the chat when someone does something ridiculous or funny
Ways People May Incorrectly Say 3Head
Since many dynamic derivatives are based on images with varying-sized foreheads, it can get confusing to know which one to use when you're not part of the Twitch crowd. Some ways that 3Head is used incorrectly are:
- What you did just then was 3Head
- You're such a 3Head!
- That move was so 3Head, and it was awesome!
- I was not too fond of that video game, 3Head.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase 3Head
- If a streamer says something silly or stupid *3Head*
- If someone uses Scottish/British accent slang in the chat *3Head*
- You are something with a Scottish/British accent and want to make it known in the chat in a funny way *3Head*
- In response to a cringe yet funny Dad joke *3Head*