This year, Dictionary.com surprised everyone by choosing “6-7” as its Word of the Year.
The phrase became hugely popular among children and teenagers over the summer, spreading through social media like wildfire, especially TikTok.
The term “6-7” seems to come from a 2024 song called Doot Doot by rapper Skrilla. In TikTok videos, people started using the song alongside clips of basketball players, such as NBA star LaMelo Ball, who is 6-foot-7. Then, a video of a boy shouting “6-7” while another boy juggled his hands quickly went viral, and the phrase took off.
Even Dictionary.com admits it doesn’t fully understand what “6-7” means. It might suggest something like “so-so” or “maybe this, maybe that,” especially when paired with a shoulder shrug or hand-juggling gesture.
Some adults have tried to make sense of the trend, while others have banned it in schools or joked about it online. Some families even wore “6-7” costumes for Halloween.
Dictionary.com says it chooses its Word of the Year based on how language reflects trends and events in society. Searches for “6-7” jumped six times since June, showing how quickly it spread.
