Zalgo Text Generator: Copy and Paste Creepy Text
Type anything into this zalgo text generator, drag one slider, and watch the letters crawl. The full Zalgo effect comes first, with versions that only rise or sink below it. Copy any row in one tap.
By Troopus · Updated: October 24, 2026
- Live preview
- One intensity slider
- Copy in one tap
- Private, in your browser
Zalgo text generator: make zalgo text
Tap Copy next to a style, then paste it anywhere. Some apps and fonts may not show every symbol, and screen readers may read styled text poorly.
What is a zalgo text generator?
Zalgo text is ordinary writing with many Unicode combining marks stacked on each letter, so the letters seem to bleed upward and downward in a creepy, glitched way. The marks are normally accents. Piled up in extra amounts, they produce the distorted look that gave the effect its name.
Zalgo is an internet meme from 2004: distorted cartoon images shared on a forum with a creepypasta story, and the name stuck to the text style that echoes that look. Technically, nothing new is invented. Unicode lets a letter carry as many combining marks as you like, and software will try to draw all of them, which causes the towering, dripping effect.
The result is still text. You can paste it into a message, a caption or a username field (if allowed) like any other characters. For a lighter version that keeps words readable, try the glitch text generator.
Searches for a cursed text generator usually mean this same effect.
How does the zalgo generator intensity slider work?
The slider sets the maximum number of marks added above and below each letter, from 1 for a light haunting to 10 for a towering mess. Each letter gets a random number up to that maximum, so the stacks vary in height. Lower values stay readable, while high values can swallow neighboring lines.
Use the slider rather than a list of preset levels so you can find the exact amount of chaos you want. The pattern is repeatable: the same text and intensity always gives the same result, so what you see is what you copy. Because letters are changed one at a time, editing one letter shifts the pattern for the rest.
| Setting | What you get |
|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Light distortion, easy to read |
| 3 to 5 | Classic Zalgo look |
| 6 to 8 | Dense stacks, may overlap lines |
| 9 to 10 | Extreme, best on one short word |
What do the rising, sinking and light versions do?
Rising puts the marks only above each letter, sinking puts them only below, and the light version adds a few marks both ways regardless of the slider. Full Zalgo mixes marks above, below and through the letters. The strikethrough and underline rows are tidy alternatives with a single mark per letter.
Splitting the directions helps when the full effect is too much for a given place. Marks that only rise are easier to fit under a line of text, and marks that only sink can sit above a line without hitting the line above. The light haunting row is fixed at a low level, so it is a safe preview when you are testing a platform.
Strikethrough and underline use a single combining stroke on each letter. They are not creepy, but they are among the best-supported combining marks, and they are handy for jokes or corrections.
Scary text copy and paste: where does Zalgo text work?
Zalgo text works wherever the app accepts Unicode text and its font engine can draw stacked marks, but some apps clip, limit or remove marks, so results vary. Test in a draft or a chat with yourself first. If it looks cut off, lower the slider or switch to the light row.
Stacked marks can overflow the box they sit in, cover nearby text or be cut at the edge of a message bubble. Some sites limit how many combining marks they allow in a row. Rules and filters differ by site and change over time, so check on the real platform instead of trusting a general claim, and keep the text short.
If you are counting characters for a post limit, remember that every mark is its own character. A short word with high intensity can use more characters than you expect, so run it through the word counter first.
Is Zalgo text bad for accessibility?
Yes, Zalgo text is hard to read for many people and can be announced badly by screen readers, which may read every mark or skip letters. Use it only for decoration and play, and never for information someone must understand, such as contact details, instructions or links.
High-intensity text can also be uncomfortable for readers with low vision or with reading difficulties. If the post matters, add the same message in plain text beside it. The results on this page include a plain-text label for assistive technology, but that label will not follow your copy into another app. Other fun styles, such as upside down text, have the same trade-off.
Frequently asked questions
What does Zalgo mean?
Zalgo is the name of a fictional creepy figure from an internet meme dating to 2004. The name became shorthand for text with heavy stacked marks that looks distorted, as if the letters were bleeding upward and downward.
How do I make Zalgo text?
Type your words in the box, set the intensity slider, and copy the first row. The tool adds random Unicode combining marks to each letter. Doing it by hand would mean inserting dozens of marks letter by letter.
Can I use Zalgo text on Discord, Reddit or X?
You can paste it into most text fields because it is Unicode, but each site decides how to display or limit it. Test a short sample first. This page makes no claim about any platform's rules, which can change.
Is this a creepy text generator?
Yes. Zalgo is the classic creepy look: stacked marks above and below each letter make ordinary words seem distorted and glitched. Use the intensity slider to choose how eerie it gets, then copy the row you like.
Why is my Zalgo text cut off?
Many apps clip content to a box, so tall stacks of marks are cropped at the top or bottom. Lower the intensity, use the rising or sinking row to fit the space, or add a blank line above and below.
Can I reverse Zalgo text back to normal?
Removing every combining mark restores the original letters, because the base letters never change. Pasting the text into a tool that strips accents or marks usually works, or you can retype the words yourself.
Is Zalgo text safe to paste?
It contains only standard Unicode characters, no scripts or links. Very long stacks can slow some apps or look broken, which is why this tool limits input to 300 characters. Keep it short and test before posting.
Does this tool send my text anywhere?
No. All conversion runs in your browser, nothing is uploaded, and there is no sign-up. Closing the page erases the text, and reopening starts again with Hello world. There is also no account, no history and no list of what you typed.