A p-Kähler structure on a complex manifold of complex dimension n is given by a d-closed transverse real (p, p)-form. In the paper, we study the existence of p-Kähler structures on compact quotients of simply connected Lie groups by discrete subgroups endowed with an invariant complex structure. In particular, we discuss the existence of p-Kähler structures on nilmanifolds, with a focus on the case $$p =2$$
p
=
2
and complex dimension $$n = 4$$
n
=
4
. Moreover, we prove that a $$(n-2)$$
(
n
-
2
)
-Kähler almost abelian solvmanifold of complex dimension $$n\ge 3$$
n
≥
3
has to be Kähler.