What Is ‘6-7,’ and Why Is Everyone Saying It?
Dictionary.com’s 2025 Word of the Year isn’t technically a word — it’s “6-7,” a viral phrase that has baffled parents, teachers, and anyone not fluent in Gen Alpha nonsense.
The site called the pick a reflection of how language evolves through online culture but confessed it doesn’t fully get it either. “Don’t worry, because we’re all still trying to figure out exactly what it means,” the announcement read.
It all started with rapper Skrilla’s 2024 song “Doot Doot (6-7).” The track’s catchy hook started appearing in TikTok edits featuring basketball players, including the NBA’s LaMelo Ball — who happens to stand 6-foot-7.
Then came the viral video: a kid shouting “6-7!” while another juggled his hands in the air. The clip spread like wildfire, spawning countless remixes and memes. Soon, the phrase was everywhere in schools, locker rooms, and even the NFL, where players used it as a celebration gesture.
@hornets from 6 7 himself #charlottehornets #67 #lameloball ♬ original sound – Charlotte Hornets
Short answer: depends on the context.
It might mean “so-so,” “maybe this, maybe that,” or absolutely nothing at all. Dictionary.com described it as “meaningless, ubiquitous, and nonsensical,” yet somehow still “meaningful to the people who use it because of the connection it fosters.”
Merriam-Webster calls it “a nonsensical expression used especially by teens and tweens.” Translation: the verbal equivalent of a blank stare.
Parents, teachers, and influencers have tried — and failed — to decode or contain the trend. Some have made explainer videos. Others have banned it in classrooms. A few have gone the opposite route, embracing the chaos with “6-7” Halloween costumes in hopes the fad burns out faster.
Child psychologists and cultural commentators agree on one thing: “6-7” might not mean anything, but it clearly means something to Gen Alpha.
Dictionary.com says its Word of the Year highlights how society communicates and what captures its collective attention. Searches for “6-7” exploded over the summer, increasing sixfold since June.
“The Word of the Year isn’t just about popular usage,” the site said. “It reveals the stories we tell about ourselves and how we’ve changed over the year.”
So, maybe “6-7” doesn’t make sense. But in a year defined by viral chaos and digital shorthand, that might be exactly the point.
