lowkey

[/ˈloʊˌki/]
adjective/adverb
discreto, disfarçado, na surdina
1. done, kept, or operating in a quiet, restrained, or inconspicuous manner; not openly displayed or acknowledged
I'm lowkey excited about the party, but I don't want to show it.
Estou discretamente empolgado com a festa, mas não quero mostrar isso.
2. slightly or somewhat; to a small degree
That movie was lowkey scary, even though it's supposed to be a comedy.
Aquele filme foi meio assustador, mesmo sendo uma comédia.
3. authentic, genuine, or real without exaggeration
Lowkey, that's the best advice anyone has given me.
Sinceramente falando, esse é o melhor conselho que já recebi.
Lowkey originated in African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and became mainstream through hip-hop culture and social media. In Brazil, it's widely adopted by younger generations and is prevalent in digital communication, memes, and casual conversation. The word reflects a cultural attitude of cool indifference and authenticity, often used ironically or as an intensifier in contemporary internet culture.
NYC Slang
on the low, on the DL (down-low), hush-hush
Synonyms / Sinônimos
discreetsubtleundercoveron the down-lowquietlow-profileinconspicuous
Antonyms / Antônimos
obviousconspicuouspublicshowyopenlyloudly

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
discreto, na surdina, meio que
commonly used in urban slang, especially among younger generations
Rio de Janeiro
na surdina, de boa, maneiro
integrated into local slang culture
São Paulo
discreto, meio que, sincer@
widely used in internet and youth culture
Portugal
discreto, na surdina, à socapa
less commonly used; Portuguese speakers prefer traditional alternatives

Related Words

understatementsubtlereservedinconspicuousunder the radar

Related Idioms & Phrases

on the lowkey
lowkey feeling
lowkey obsessed
keep it lowkey
lowkey real
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