phrase
Common
keys
keez
Keys (phrase) means an intentionally garbled spelling of "kys" ("kill yourself"), used online to dodge automatic word filters. Example: “The comment got flagged anyway even though he'd typed "keys" instead of the real phrase.”
phrase
1
An intentionally garbled spelling of "kys" ("kill yourself"), used online to dodge automatic word filters.
"The comment got flagged anyway even though he'd typed "keys" instead of the real phrase."
How to use keys
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA disguised, filter-dodging way of typing a harmful internet phrase telling someone to kill themselves.
When to use it
Extremely hostile online slang — never appropriate outside describing internet harassment tactics.
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The comment got flagged anyway even though he'd typed "_____" instead of the real phrase.
Rhymes for keys
See all rhymes for keys →Frequently asked questions
What does “keys” mean?
The word “keys” means an intentionally garbled spelling of "kys" ("kill yourself"), used online to dodge automatic word filters. In plain terms, a disguised, filter-dodging way of typing a harmful internet phrase telling someone to kill themselves.
How do you pronounce “keys”?
“Keys” is pronounced keez (/kiːz/ in IPA).
How do you use “keys” in a sentence?
Here is “keys” used in a sentence: “The comment got flagged anyway even though he'd typed "keys" instead of the real phrase.”
What part of speech is “keys”?
“Keys” is a phrase.
Is “keys” a common word?
“Keys” is a fairly common word in modern English.
Why do people type keys instead of kys online?
"Keys" is an intentionally garbled spelling of "kys," an abbreviation of "kill yourself," written that way to slip past automatic word filters on social platforms and in game chats. Disguising the spelling does not change what it means: it is telling someone to harm themselves, which is abusive.
Is saying keys to someone against platform rules?
Generally yes. Most major platforms treat any phrasing that tells another user to kill themselves as harassment or self-harm-related abuse, and deliberately misspelling it to dodge filters is still a violation. Accounts that use it can be muted, suspended, or banned.
How can you tell whether keys means door keys or the slang insult?
Context decides it. In ordinary sentences about locks, cars, keyboards, or music, "keys" is simply the plural of "key." The slang sense almost always appears alone or as a hostile one-word reply in online arguments, where a literal reading would make no sense.
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