The slang word “67” has been declared the Word of the Year by Dictionary.com, with “67” being short for “six-seven.” The word is commonly used among Gen Z and Gen Alphas, who pronounce it “six-seven” and has been used on various forms of social media and in schools in 2025.
At the outset, it appears rather unusual that a single number has gained so much acclaim. However, it has to be recognized that language is evolving at such a pace that succeeding generations are left in the dust by the former. “‘67” is one of these codes that the older generation hears but doesn’t understand.
The word’s popularity has been attributed to “Doot Doot (6 7),” a song by US rapper Skrilla, which contributed to the word reaching mainstream online discourse. The word went on to gain popularity on the platforms of TikTok, group chats, school corridors, and gaming sites. The interesting aspect about the word “67” is that it does not stand for something beyond itself but rather offers different shades of meaning in accordance with the intonation in which it is used. Gen Alphas enjoy the word because it is not easily understood by others.
This is the trend of the speed at which the language is evolving with the help of online culture. Social media platforms not only transmit slang terms but also proliferate them on a large scale. These terms go in and out of vogue in a matter of weeks. For most parents and teachers, language becomes a constantly moving target in terms of staying updated with the latest slang terms in vogue because, for most children, what was in vogue yesterday is outdated by tomorrow.
Nevertheless, the popularity of “67” can also be interpreted in terms of creativity. The text explains it as follows: “It allows young people to convey emotions in a short and concise manner without the need for explanation.” This dramatizes the crisis in communication in which the world finds itself, where everything has to be abbreviated, even emotions or feelings.
Nevertheless, there are questions related to the trend. When language becomes so compacted, perhaps something gets lost in translation. The quick symbol can stand in for articulate expression. When comprehension drifts too far, communication between the generational group and others becomes more difficult to facilitate. For now, “67” is “a symbol of the moment.” It is “a reminder that language is not static but dynamic.”
Language “evolves with culture that is nimble, funny, in perpetual motion, and influenced by the youngest voices in the room.” The “next big slang” is “just around the corner.” For now, however, “67” symbolizes “a moment in which numbers are not only numbers, but can be indicators of an identity that speaks in numbers.”
