AIM (Short for AOL Instant Messenger) was released by AOL in May of 1997. AIM works best on Windows, but can also run on older versions of Mac and Linux (think Apple's iChat). AIM is the most popular Instant Messaging service currently available (with 52% of the market share in 2006).
One important thing to note about AIM Emoticons is that every version of AIM comes with the same 16 basic emoticons. What's great about this is reliability. The shortcut keys remain the same, as does the ASCII text. What's bad about this is that after using AIM for awhile, expressing yourself can get a little boring when using the same emoticons / smileys over and over again. This is why the newest version of AIM (AIM v 6.5) comes with a great platform to truly emote yourself: AIM Expressions.
In an attempt to move beyond the "Classic / Basic" 16 emoticons, AIM Expressions allows you to fully personalize your chat client with hot new Buddy Icons, Buddy Wallpapers, Meez, WeeMee's, Buddy Sounds, and even reset your emoticons. See below for more info:
| ASCII text | Shortcut | Smiley | Description |
| :-) | Ctrl+1 | ![]() |
The happy AIM smiley emoticon |
| :-( | Ctrl+2 | ![]() |
The sad AIM smiley emoticon |
| ;-) | Ctrl+3 | ![]() |
The winking AIM smiley emoticon |
| :-P | Ctrl+4 | ![]() |
The tongue AIM smiley emoticon |
| =-O | Ctrl+5 | ![]() |
The shocked AIM smiley emoticon |
| :-* | Ctrl+6 | ![]() |
The kissing AIM smiley emoticon |
| >:O | Ctrl+7 | ![]() |
The angry AIM smiley emoticon |
| 8-) | Ctrl+8 | ![]() |
The cool AIM smiley emoticon |
| :-$ | Ctrl+Shift+1 | ![]() |
The indifferent AIM smiley emoticon |
| :-! | Ctrl+Shift+2 | ![]() |
The drunk AIM smiley emoticon |
| :-[ | Ctrl+Shift+3 | ![]() |
The embarassed AIM simley emoticon |
| O:-) | Ctrl+Shift+4 | ![]() |
The angel AIM smiley emoticon |
| :-/ | Ctrl+Shift+5 | ![]() |
The confused AIM smiley emoticon |
| :'( | Ctrl+Shift+6 | ![]() |
The crying AIM smiley emoticon |
| :-X | Ctrl+Shift+7 | ![]() |
The silent AIM smiley emoticon |
| :-D | Ctrl+Shift+8 | ![]() |
The laughing AIM smiley emoticon |
| ASCII text | Shortcut | Smiley | Description |
| :-) | Ctrl+1 | ![]() |
The happy AIM 6.5 smiley emoticon |
| :-( | Ctrl+2 | ![]() |
The sad AIM 6.5 smiley emoticon |
| ;-) | Ctrl+3 | ![]() |
The winking AIM 6.5 smiley emoticon |
| :-P | Ctrl+4 | ![]() |
The tongue AIM 6.5 smiley emoticon |
| =-O | Ctrl+5 | ![]() |
The shocked AIM 6.5 smiley emoticon |
| :-* | Ctrl+6 | ![]() |
The kissing AIM 6.5 smiley emoticon |
| >:O | Ctrl+7 | ![]() |
The angry AIM 6.5 smiley emoticon |
| 8-) | Ctrl+8 | ![]() |
The cool AIM 6.5 smiley emoticon |
| :-$ | Ctrl+Shift+1 | ![]() |
The indifferent AIM 6.5 smiley emoticon |
| :-! | Ctrl+Shift+2 | ![]() |
The drunk AIM 6.5 smiley emoticon |
| :-[ | Ctrl+Shift+3 | ![]() |
The embarassed AIM 6.5 simley emoticon |
| O:-) | Ctrl+Shift+4 | ![]() |
The angel AIM 6.5 smiley emoticon |
| :-/ | Ctrl+Shift+5 | ![]() |
The confused AIM 6.5 smiley emoticon |
| :'( | Ctrl+Shift+6 | ![]() |
The crying AIM 6.5 smiley emoticon |
| :-X | Ctrl+Shift+7 | ![]() |
The silent AIM 6.5 smiley emoticon |
| :-D | Ctrl+Shift+8 | ![]() |
The laughing AIM 6.5 smiley emoticon |
At this point, you probably don't need a description of what each emoticon means. AIM 6.5 allows for many emoticon options of various colors, types, and sizes. Here's a wide assortment of animated AIM emoticons broken down by topic:
| ASCII text | Shortcut | Purple smiley |
Blue smiley |
Rainbow smiley |
Alien smiley |
MadMag smiley |
Monkey smiley |
Clown smiley |
Cartoon smiley |
Symbol smiley |
| :-) | Ctrl+1 | ![]() |
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| :-( | Ctrl+2 | ![]() |
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| ;-) | Ctrl+3 | ![]() |
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| :-P | Ctrl+4 | ![]() |
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| =-O | Ctrl+5 | ![]() |
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| :-* | Ctrl+6 | ![]() |
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| >:O | Ctrl+7 | ![]() |
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| 8-) | Ctrl+8 | ![]() |
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| :-$ | Ctrl+Shift+1 | ![]() |
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| :-! | Ctrl+Shift+2 | ![]() |
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| :-[ | Ctrl+Shift+3 | ![]() |
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| O:-) | Ctrl+Shift+4 | ![]() |
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| :-/ | Ctrl+Shift+5 | ![]() |
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| :'( | Ctrl+Shift+6 | ![]() |
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| :-X | Ctrl+Shift+7 | ![]() |
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| :-D | Ctrl+Shift+8 | ![]() |
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| ASCII text | Shortcut | Pet smiley |
Toy smiley |
Gay Pride smiley |
Dilbert smiley |
At Home smiley |
Red smiley |
Random smiley |
Music smiley |
Nature smiley |
| :-) | Ctrl+1 | ![]() |
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| :-( | Ctrl+2 | ![]() |
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| ;-) | Ctrl+3 | ![]() |
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| :-P | Ctrl+4 | ![]() |
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| =-O | Ctrl+5 | ![]() |
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| :-* | Ctrl+6 | ![]() |
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| >:O | Ctrl+7 | ![]() |
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| 8-) | Ctrl+8 | ![]() |
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| :-$ | Ctrl+Shift+1 | ![]() |
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| :-! | Ctrl+Shift+2 | ![]() |
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| :-[ | Ctrl+Shift+3 | ![]() |
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| O:-) | Ctrl+Shift+4 | ![]() |
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| :-/ | Ctrl+Shift+5 | ![]() |
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| :'( | Ctrl+Shift+6 | ![]() |
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| :-X | Ctrl+Shift+7 | ![]() |
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| :-D | Ctrl+Shift+8 | ![]() |
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All Icons and Emoticons on this page are property of AOL Instant Messenger™ (AIM™) and are not to be sold in anyway, nor are they to be distributed or copied for use beyond AIM applications and AIM promotions.