Teen Slang · Mood & feelings

What does “Lowkey / Highkey” mean?

'Lowkey' = somewhat / secretly; 'highkey' = very much / openly. 'Lowkey nervous', 'highkey obsessed.'

Where “Lowkey / Highkey” comes from

AAVE-rooted intensifiers that spread widely through Twitter in the 2010s.

Why teens actually say it

Fine-tunes how strongly or quietly someone admits to a feeling.

What it means for you as a parent

Harmless filler. Just dials the volume up or down on whatever follows.

How it’s used

  • “Lowkey nervous about the tryouts tomorrow.” Quietly admitting a feeling. Soft and a bit vulnerable.
  • “Highkey obsessed with this show right now.” Openly enthusiastic about something. Loud and happy.

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