Dictionary.com names '6-7' as 2025 Word of the Year, inspired by Gen Alpha slang

Dictionary.com selects Gen Alpha slang "6-7" as 2025 Word of the Year, a viral phrase born from rap and TikTok

Dictionary.com has crowned “6-7” as its 2025 Word of the Year, marking the rise of a Gen Alpha slang term that has swept across TikTok, classrooms, and pop culture.

According to Dictionary.com, “6-7” (also written as “six-seven” or “67”) is a phrase that blends humor, emotion, and social connection. While some interpret it to mean “so-so” or “maybe,” it’s often shouted as an interjection of excitement or energy. “When people say it, they’re not just repeating a meme; they’re shouting a feeling,” said Steve Johnson, director of lexicography at the Dictionary Media Group.

The term’s origins trace back to rapper Skrilla’s 2024 song “Doot Doot,” where he raps, “The way that switch, I know he dyin’. 6-7. I just bipped right on the highway.” Soon after, a viral TikTok featuring NBA player LaMelo Ball and his 6-foot-7 height brought the phrase into mainstream awareness.

The slang exploded again when YouTuber Cam Wilder captured the now-iconic “67 Kid” moment — a young boy gleefully saying “6-7” while making a hand motion resembling weighing two objects. The gesture and phrase quickly became a staple among Gen Alpha users online.

“6-7” has since appeared on South Park and even in classrooms, where teachers use it to engage students during lessons.

Other finalists for Dictionary.com’s Word of the Year included “agentic,” “aura farming,” “Gen Z stare,” “overtourism,” “tariff,” and “tradwife.” But none matched the viral force or cultural impact of “6-7,” proving once again how internet slang now drives mainstream language.