What Does Lowkey Mean?

Lowkey means secretly, somewhat, or to a small degree. It's used to downplay or be subtle about expressing feelings, opinions, or desires without making a big deal out of them.

Origin: Modern internet slang, opposite of "highkey"

Usage: "I'm lowkey tired" (I'm kind of tired, but not making a big deal about it)

How Lowkey Is Used on Social Media

TikTok Usage

• Video captions: "Lowkey obsessed with this trend"
• Comments: "This is lowkey relatable"
• Self-expression: "Lowkey want to try this"

Instagram Usage

• Story captions: "Lowkey love this photo"
• Post captions: "Lowkey proud of myself"
• Comments: "You're lowkey talented"

Twitter/X Usage

• Tweets: "I lowkey need a break"
• Confessions: "Lowkey think pineapple on pizza is good"
• Opinions: "This song is lowkey a bop"

Examples in Context

Subtle feelings:

• "I'm lowkey hungry"
• "Lowkey stressed about tomorrow"
• "This is lowkey annoying"

Understated opinions:

• "That movie was lowkey good"
• "Lowkey the best song on the album"
• "This outfit is lowkey fire"

Secret thoughts:

• "I lowkey agree with you"
• "Lowkey want to go home"
• "I'm lowkey jealous"

Lowkey vs. Highkey

Understanding the difference:

Lowkey:

• Subtle, downplayed
• Somewhat, kind of
• Not making it obvious
• Example: "I'm lowkey excited" (quietly excited)

Highkey:

• Obvious, openly
• Very much, definitely
• Making it known
• Example: "I'm highkey excited" (very obviously excited)

Different Ways to Use Lowkey

As an adverb (most common):

• "I lowkey like this"
• "That's lowkey funny"
• "I'm lowkey worried"

To express contradiction:

• "I said I didn't care, but lowkey I do"
• "Lowkey upset even though I'm smiling"
• "Acting fine but lowkey stressed"

To soften statements:

• "This is lowkey the best thing ever" (better than admitting full enthusiasm)
• "You're lowkey annoying" (softer than "you're annoying")
• "I lowkey don't understand" (admitting confusion casually)

Common Lowkey Phrases

Popular expressions:

• "Lowkey/highkey" - Comparing two levels of feeling
• "Not gonna lie, lowkey" - Being honest about subtle feelings
• "Lowkey tho" - Adding emphasis at the end
• "Lowkey lowkey" - Really, truly (doubled for emphasis)

When to Use Lowkey

Perfect situations:

• Expressing unpopular opinions gently
• Admitting something embarrassing
• Downplaying excitement or emotions
• Confessing subtle feelings
• Making observations without being dramatic

Examples:

• "I lowkey didn't like that movie everyone loves"
• "Lowkey scared of butterflies"
• "I lowkey love doing homework" (unusual opinion)
• "Lowkey think they're perfect together"

Related Terms

• Highkey: The opposite - obvious and loud
• Kinda/Kind of: Somewhat, similar meaning
• Sort of: Similar to lowkey
• Ngl (Not gonna lie): Often used together with lowkey
• On the DL (down low): Secretly, similar concept

Important Notes

• Tone moderator: Softens statements and opinions
• Versatile: Works in almost any casual context
• Age demographics: Extremely popular with Gen Z and younger millennials
• Overuse: Can become filler if used too often
• Casual only: Best for informal social media, not professional contexts

Lowkey is one of the most versatile slang terms on social media, perfect for expressing yourself without being too intense or dramatic.