How to Pronounce Low-key

To pronounce "low-key", say LOWK-ey — 2 syllables, IPA /ˈləʊki/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

low-key

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Accent

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Speed

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2

Syllables

7

Letters

/ˈləʊki/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “low-key”

"low-key" has 2 syllables: lowk-ey. It rhymes with smoky and croaky, if that helps it stick.

Sounds exactly like: locky — easy to mix up when writing.

What does low-key mean?

adjective

  1. Dark; characterised by dark tones and muted colours.
  2. Restrained, subtle, not trying to attract attention.

    “She deserves an Oscar for her low-key performance in that movie.”

adverb

  1. A little; somewhat.
  2. In a low-key or surreptitious manner; secretively; on the down-low

Synonyms

furtively

Antonyms

high-key

Hear “low-key” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with low-key

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

smokycroakypokeypokychokeylocijokeysoakykaraokegnocchihokeyproke

Related words

restrainedsubduedlowlimiteddiscretecovertstealthysecretive

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "low-key"?▾

"Low-key" has 2 syllables: lowk · ey.

What is the IPA transcription of "low-key"?▾

The IPA transcription of "low-key" is /ˈləʊki/.

What does "low-key" mean?▾

Low-key: Dark; characterised by dark tones and muted colours.

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