If lately you’ve been staring at your TikTok For You Page thinking, “wait, what is this?”, there’s a good chance it’s because of one word: lowkenuinely. Yep—after the 67 meme, this new made-up term has arrived. It shows up in on-screen text, in audio clips, in comments, and in those videos that go viral even though they look like they were made in 15 seconds… and yet people use it like it’s always existed. So what does it actually mean, and why does it fit TikTok’s vibe so well?
Lowkenuinely is a blend of lowkey (something said quietly, without making a big deal out of it) and genuinely (something authentic, real, sincere). In practice, it’s used to say you truly feel something, but you’re delivering it with that layer of subtlety or restraint that’s typical online—as if you don’t want to sound dramatic… even if you kind of are inside. It’s also an emphasis filler, similar to how people say “literally” or “seriously” to underline what comes next.
The key is that lowkenuinely doesn’t replace those words—it adds a nuance: “this is genuine, but I’m dropping it casually.” And yes, that’s exactly the kind of micro-language tool that thrives on TikTok, where language gets optimized through captions and scroll-speed rhythm, almost like a software update for communicating emotions faster.
Definition: a blend of discretion and sincerity
To really understand it, it helps to separate its two parts. On one hand, lowkey is used to say something “under your breath” socially: not necessarily a secret, but a statement delivered without drama, like you’re just casually mentioning it. On the other hand, genuinely points to what’s authentic—what you truly think or feel, without irony.
Put together, lowkenuinely works like an intensifier with its own personality. It’s not just “for real,” but “for real, without making a fuss.” That’s why it fits so well in phrases about burnout, cultural obsessions, or small everyday worries—the usual fuel of TikTok.
In the examples going around, the pattern is clear: the word shows up to reinforce a real emotion, but in a laid-back tone. You can use it at the start as an intro (“Lowkenuinely, I love…”) or mid-sentence as a kind of underline (“I’m lowkenuinely exhausted”).
Some common TikTok-style phrasings follow that logic: “I’m lowkenuinely worried about this week’s exam” or “Lowkenuinely, I really like that new song.” It’s also used to emphasize being tired (“I’m lowkenuinely so tired right now”) or to admit an interest with a bit of social restraint (“Lowkenuinely, I’m obsessed with that show”). The underlying message is always similar: this isn’t performative, it’s real—but I’m not going to turn it into a whole speech.
Origin and why it went viral on TikTok
Based on what’s available, the term seems to have first appeared on TikTok in November 2025, from a video posted by user @bunnyboyjosh. The clip included a long, absurd sentence (very on-brand for the platform) where the term worked like the perfect gear between chaotic text and intent: a situation that was both “lowkey” and “genuine,” wrapped into a single word.
From there, lowkenuinely started slipping into TikTok’s wider vocabulary—an ecosystem that’s especially good at spreading new expressions. A word doesn’t have to be “correct” to work: it just needs to be useful, catchy, and flexible, and this one is. Plus, it has that internet-born aesthetic that feels like an accident, but ends up being a surprisingly precise communication tool. How many times have you felt something intensely and still not wanted to sound intense?
Another reason it’s taking off is that it can stand in for other overused intensifiers. Words like “literally” or “seriously” have been pushed to the limit on social media, and TikTok is always looking for new ways to say the same thing with a twist. Lowkenuinely brings novelty and, at the same time, a clear nuance: sincerity with restraint.
And of course, it helps that it fits the TikTok format: it works in a caption, fits in on-screen text, and sounds weird enough to make you pause for half a second to process it (a half-second the algorithm appreciates, even if nobody says it out loud).
Real-world examples and when it actually makes sense to say it
Beyond specific creators, what’s interesting about lowkenuinely is the kind of situations where it shows up. It’s not used for big speeches or over-the-top emotions, but for the opposite: everyday moments, half-confessed thoughts, and feelings that are real… but not worth dramatizing.
For example, it’s very common in videos about physical or mental exhaustion, which is everywhere on TikTok. Lines like “I’m lowkenuinely exhausted” often go with simple clips: someone collapsing onto the bed, dragging their feet around the house, or staring into space after a long day. The word reinforces the idea of “I’m not kidding, I’m genuinely tired,” without turning it into a solemn complaint.
It also appears a lot in content about studying, work, or everyday pressure. Videos about exam weeks, deadlines, or endless shifts use lowkenuinely to signal that mental switch: now it’s time to get serious, even if it’s said with humor or ironic editing. It’s a way to acknowledge real effort without getting epic about it.
Another frequent use is tied to personal tastes and small obsessions. Admitting you really like a song, a show, or even a specific aesthetic can sound intense… so lowkenuinely works as a social buffer. It basically means: “I genuinely care, but I’m not going to launch into a monologue about it.”
Even when it comes to personal style or outfits, the word is useful for expressing something in between. It’s not “I love it” or “I don’t care,” but something more ambiguous: I like it, it feels like me, but I don’t need to hype it up. Exactly the kind of nuance TikTok constantly plays with.
At its core, lowkenuinely works because it answers a very specific need in today’s digital language: saying authentic things without sounding too intense. On a network where everything gets amplified, where every emotion can become content, this word lets you turn the volume down a notch without losing sincerity.
And that may be why TikTok keeps being a constant factory for terms like this. They aren’t just memes or weird words—they’re small language tools designed to survive the infinite scroll. Some last weeks, others months… and a few end up slipping into our vocabulary before we even notice. Lowkenuinely, lowkey, seems to be headed that way.
