What does 'Lowkey' mean in the slang of young internet users?

On social media, many young people say they live "lowkey," leaving older netizens confused and wondering what "lowkey" means in the language of Gen Z and Gen Alpha.

In the digital age, the language of young people is changing at a dizzying pace. Many English words have entered Vietnam and quickly become commonplace among Gen Z. Among them, the word "lowkey" appears frequently across social media platforms from Facebook and TikTok to Instagram.

However, the way many young Vietnamese people use this word differs from its original meaning.

What does "lowkey" mean?

Lowkey (full spelling low-key) originates from music , initially used to describe a low, deep vocal range. In the 19th century, writer Charles Dickens used "lowkey" to describe the voice of a character in one of his novels.

Decoding the Gen Z dictionary: 'What does Lowkey mean?'.

Later, "lowkey" came to be used in language books to refer to someone with a low, soft voice, like a whisper. Before the 1890s, "lowkey" was a metaphor for something quiet, simple, or moderate. About 100 years later, the meaning of lowkey expanded, now referring to comfort and naturalness.

According to the Cambridge English Dictionary, "lowkey" is defined as an adjective describing something quiet, simple, and not attracting much attention or commotion. For example, "The wedding was a low-key affair, with fewer than 30 people attending" means the wedding was quite simple, with fewer than 30 people in attendance.

Lowkey is known to have become popular within the American hip-hop scene before gradually spreading to the general public. In 2014, the term was mentioned in the lyrics of Nicki Minaj's song "Only." Based on the context of the song, low-key means keeping something secret, while high-key means making it public.

"Lowkey" in the "Gen Z dictionary"

When the term "lowkey" arrived on Vietnamese social media, its meaning was altered. They used it to refer to someone who chose a private lifestyle, not wanting to attract attention or show off on social media.

Many young people define a "lowkey guy" or "lowkey girl" based solely on their profile. An account with an anonymous avatar, no photos of themselves, no status updates, and little interaction is suddenly labeled "lowkey."

The term "lowkey" is used by young people to refer to those who don't often post pictures on social media. (Image: iStock)

Many people build a "lowkey" image online by hiding all their posts. Some are labeled as reclusive or "lowkey" because they don't post personal stories, frustrations, or work-related difficulties on social media, and they don't have many friends on those platforms.

The term "lowkey" in youth slang has increasingly diverged from its original meaning. Even those who haven't kept up with the latest social media trends are being called "lowkey." For example: "You don't know about celebrity A? You live 'lowkey' like that."

For young people who enjoy creating something new and different, "modifying" common words is seen as a fun and trendy game. However, many older generations who value linguistic norms believe that going too far in "transforming" words will make the language less pure. They also worry that young people using slang words as a trend without understanding their original meaning may misinterpret them, leading to misunderstandings in communication.

(Synthetic)

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/lowkey-la-gi-trong-ngon-ngu-cu-dan-mang-tre-ar1020693.html