Dictionary.com Names Gen Alpha Slang '6 7' Word of Year Amid Mixed Reactions

Dictionary.com has named "6-7" (pronounced "six-seven") as its 2025 Word of the Year, a choice that has sparked confusion and mixed reactions online. The term, popularized among Gen Alpha and viral on social media, is described as meaningless, ubiquitous, and nonsensical, often used with a shrugging hand gesture to convey ambiguity or as an exclamation. Its origins are unclear but may trace back to a 2024 song by rapper Skrilla and have been fueled by viral moments such as a youth basketball clip. Despite lacking a precise definition, "6-7" captures the cultural mood of 2025 as a form of brainrot slang reflecting internet absurdity and social signaling. The phrase's popularity surged sixfold in 2025, leading some schools to ban its use, while public reactions range from bewilderment to embracing its chaotic humor. Experts note "6-7" as a linguistic phenomenon connecting people through shared feeling rather than clear meaning, marking a shift in how slang operates in digital culture.