The "hot" emote is used to express attraction, appreciation, or approval of something visually appealing or impressive. It's the Twitch equivalent of saying "that's hot" or "attractive" in response to content, people, or situations. The emote conveys a sense of admiration with a slightly playful or cheeky tone, often used when something or someone appears on stream that chat finds attractive or when acknowledging something cool or impressive.
Origin
The "hot" emote originates from Twitch streamer Nmplol (Nick Polom), featuring him looking at the camera with a somewhat smug or appreciative expression while in his streaming setup. This emote was added to his channel around 2020-2021 and became popular within his community before spreading to other channels. The image captures Nick in a moment that viewers interpreted as him reacting to something attractive or impressive, which led to its current usage pattern.
When to use
When an attractive person appears on stream or in content being watched
Reacting to impressive gameplay, skills, or achievements
Responding to aesthetically pleasing visuals, setups, or environments
Playfully complimenting the streamer or other chatters
Ironically commenting on situations that are awkward or "spicy"
Expressing approval of good takes or opinions in chat discussions
