# Kew

/ˈkju/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/kew
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a cute or sweet way of saying 'cute'. It is often used online or in text messages to describe something adorable.

For teachers: representing a phonetic spelling of the word 'cute', often used to convey a sense of forced or exaggerated sweetness. Primarily found in digital communication and informal social media contexts.

## Examples

- That puppy is so kew.
- She posted a photo of her new kitten with the caption 'so kew' and a heart emoji.
- While some users find the intentional misspelling of 'cute' as 'kew' to be endearing, others view it as an annoying feature of modern internet slang.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The kew baby" but "The cute baby" — Kew is slang and should never be used in formal writing or professional contexts; use 'cute' instead.

## Usage notes

- Used as a predicative or attributive adjective in highly informal digital registers.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.