Discord Text Formatting
Discord text formatting uses markdown: you wrap or prefix text with symbols such as **, __ or
-#, and Discord shows it as bold, underlined or small text after sending. Discord supports 15 markdown formats in messages,
listed in its Markdown
Text 101 help article. Markdown does not work in display names or server names; those need Unicode
Discord fonts.
Discord markdown cheat sheet
These are the 15 Discord markdown formats and the exact syntax for each:
| Format | Type this | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Italic | *italic* or _italic_ | One symbol each side |
| Bold | **bold** | Two asterisks each side |
| Bold italic | ***bold italic*** | Three asterisks each side |
| Underline | __underline__ | Combines with bold and italic |
| Strikethrough | ~~strike~~ | Two tildes each side |
| Spoiler | ||spoiler|| | A code block cancels it |
| Large header | # Header | Line start, space after the hash |
| Medium header | ## Header | Line start, space required |
| Small header | ### Header | Line start, space required |
| Subtext (small text) | -# small text | Line start, space required |
| Masked link | [text](https://example.com) | Shows the text as a link |
| Bulleted list | - item or * item | Indent 2 spaces for a sub-item |
| Inline code | `code` | One backtick each side |
| Code block | ```code``` | Three backticks, can span lines |
| Block quote | > quote or >>> quote | >>> quotes every following line |
How to make small text in Discord
You make small text in Discord by starting a line with -# followed by a space, for example -# sent from my phone.
The subtext format shrinks and greys out the whole line. It works only at the start of a line in messages.
For small text in a display name or the About Me, use Unicode superscript letters such as Λ’α΅α΅Λ‘Λ‘ α΅α΅Λ£α΅, which are characters rather than formatting. The small text generator produces superscript, small caps and subscript versions.
How to combine Discord formats
Discord formats nest when the symbols are placed outside one another. 4 common combinations:
- Bold underline:
__**text**__ - Italic underline:
__*text*__ - Bold italic underline:
__***text***__ - Bold strikethrough:
~~**text**~~
A spoiler cannot hide a code block: ||`code`|| shows the code.
Where does Discord markdown work?
Discord markdown works in messages and in the About Me, and does not work in names. Discord's Custom Profiles article states that the About Me allows markdown, links, emoji and Unicode characters within 190 characters, and that markdown symbols count toward the limit.
| Place | Markdown | Unicode styles |
|---|---|---|
| Messages | Yes | Yes |
| About Me | Yes | Yes |
| Display name | No | Yes (πΉπππππππππ) |
| Server name | No | Yes |
Markdown or Unicode for bold text in Discord?
Markdown is the better choice for bold in Discord messages: **bold** keeps the letters plain, so the words stay searchable
in Discord search and screen readers read them normally. Unicode bold (π―πΌπΉπ±) uses mathematical symbol characters,
which NVDA, Narrator and recent VoiceOver skip, according to Adrian Roselli's 2025 tests. Use Unicode only where markdown does not
render, such as names, or for looks markdown lacks, such as gothic, cursive and bubble letters. The
gothic text generator is the most common source for Discord display names.