from AAVE
lowkey
Meaning
- Secretly, or without drawing attention to it.
- (adjective) Quiet, modest, or understated.
“I’m lowkey nervous about this presentation.”
Where it came from
Rooted in African American Vernacular English, where it described something kept quiet or under the radar. It spread into general internet slang through the 2010s as a softener placed in front of an honest admission.