lowkey

What it means

Used to soften or quietly admit something — meaning 'kind of,' 'secretly,' or 'a little bit.' It signals a subtle or low-intensity feeling, often something you're half-admitting rather than shouting from the rooftops.

Examples

• I'm lowkey nervous about the interview tomorrow.
• Lowkey kind of obsessed with this song right now.
• I lowkey want to leave this party already.
• He's lowkey the funniest person in our group chat.

Where it comes from

Originally from AAVE, where 'low-key' meant doing something quietly or on the down-low. It became a staple of internet and texting slang in the 2010s, frequently paired with its opposite, 'highkey.'

Related slang