Dictionary.com’s Word of the Year Is… ‘6-7’?!
In a move that has left linguists scratching their heads and parents utterly baffled, Dictionary.com crowned “6-7” as its 2025 Word of the Year — even though, technically, it isn’t a word at all, the AP reports. The bizarre viral phrase has taken over classrooms, TikTok feeds, and text messages, leaving adults struggling to decode it while teenagers can’t seem to stop saying it.
The site’s annual pick is meant to reflect cultural shifts and trends through language, but even Dictionary.com admits it’s not entirely sure what “6-7” means. “Don’t worry, because we’re all still trying to figure out exactly what it means,” the site said when announcing the choice this week.
The origin of the cryptic term traces back to a 2024 song that began circulating on TikTok. Clips featuring basketball players, including the NBA’s LaMelo Ball — who happens to stand 6-foot-7 — helped propel the phrase into the digital mainstream. It reached full-blown meme status when a boy dubbed “The 6-7 Kid” yelled the phrase in a video while another child juggled his hands beside him. Within days, the sound and gesture were everywhere.
No one can quite agree on what “6-7” stands for. Some argue it means “so-so” or “maybe this, maybe that,” especially when paired with the accompanying hand motion. Others use it as a playful jab to annoy adults. Even its spelling — “6-7,” “6 7,” or “six seven” — is up for debate. Merriam-Webster has labeled it “a nonsensical expression used especially by teens and tweens.”
“It’s meaningless, ubiquitous, and nonsensical. In other words, it has all the hallmarks of brainrot,” Dictionary.com said. “Still, it remains meaningful to the people who use it because of the connection it fosters.”
The trend has taken on a life of its own, spilling out from social media into schools, homes, and even the NFL, where players have adopted it as a celebration gesture. Parents and teachers, desperate to understand the craze, have made their own videos dissecting its meaning. Some suggest ignoring it until it fades away; others have tried to reclaim it by turning it into Halloween costumes in hopes of making it “uncool.” Teachers in some schools have even banned students from saying it during class.
Dictionary.com says its choice reflects how language evolves online and captures what people are talking about — or in this case, endlessly repeating. The site reviewed social media chatter, news stories, and search engine data before deciding on “6-7,” noting that online searches for the term have multiplied sixfold since June.
“The Word of the Year isn’t just about popular usage; it reveals the stories we tell about ourselves and how we’ve changed over the year,” the site said.
{Matzav.com}
