Dictionary.com has officially named “67," pronounced “six-seven," as its 2025 Word of the Year, a slang term that’s taken the internet by storm. Used widely by the rising generation, the 'brainrot' phrase has spread through music, memes, and TikTok, reflecting the absurd humor and viral culture of a new generation.
The platform describes it as part of “classic brainrot slang,” which is “purposefully nonsensical and all about being in on the absurdity.” In other words, the fun lies in not taking it too seriously. The word, pronounced “six-seven” and never “sixty-seven,” has become a kind of cultural inside joke, one that connects young people through humor and shared digital trends, as per a report by ABC News.
“Because of its murky and shifting usage, it’s an example of brainrot slang and is intended to be nonsensical and playfully absurd,” Dictionary.com noted.
The term "67" can be traced back to Skrilla's 2024 song "Doot Doot (6 7)," while others have linked it to NBA player LaMelo Ball, who is 6 feet, 7 inches tall.
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The trend snowballed further when social media creator Cam Wilder uploaded a video of a boy at a basketball game chanting “six-seven” into the camera. The clip exploded online, and the boy was instantly dubbed “The 67 Kid.” His playful energy and signature palm gesture, both hands facing upward, moving alternately up and down, became the hallmark of the meme, as per a report by Forbes an ABC News.
Before long, edits featuring the sound appeared everywhere: from dance studios where instructors counted out “six-seven,” to restaurant clips where crowds cheered when an In-N-Out employee called out order number 67. The phrase became a symbol of Gen Alpha’s humor, absurd, spontaneous, and ever-changing.
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Kinney made waves when he casually rated things “six, seven” in viral clips, helping solidify the phrase’s cadence and tone. Soon, the internet transformed it into a flexible meme, sometimes meaning confidence, sometimes just rhythm, and often pure nonsense. As one trend bled into another, even horror-style edits labeled “SCP-067” emerged, proving that the meme could swing from funny to eerie without losing its cultural pull.
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Steve Johnson, Ph.D., director of lexicography for the Dictionary Media Group at IXL Learning, explained its appeal:
"It's part inside joke, part social signal and part performance." "When people say it, they're not just repeating a meme; they're shouting a feeling."
Johnson continued, "It's one of the first Words of the Year that works as an interjection -- a burst of energy that spreads and connects people long before anyone agrees on what it actually means."
Dictionary.com’s team concluded that “67” shows the speed of language evolution, especially as younger generations drive trends through TikTok and online remix culture.
According to Dictionary.com, “67” embodies the essence of modern internet slang, fast-moving, shapeless, and community-driven. It also captures how Gen Alpha and Gen Z are reshaping language through social media, where jokes, memes, and trends blur the line between humor and expression.
“‘67’ shows the speed at which a new word can rocket around the world as a rising generation enters the global conversation,” the dictionary stated.
Alongside “67,” other finalists for Word of the Year included “agnetic,” “aura farming,” “Gen Z stare,” “overtourism,” “tariff,” and “tradwife.” But none carried the same viral energy or cultural footprint.
Unlike traditional picks rooted in politics or global events, “67” represents vibe-driven expression, an interjection, not a statement. It doesn’t have a strict meaning, but that’s exactly the point. It’s about connection, humor, and the joy of being in on something meaningless yet oddly unifying.
In a world dominated by trends that appear and disappear in days, “67” is proof that language evolves at internet speed. It’s a snapshot of how young people communicate today, through memes, music, and moments that defy explanation yet feel instantly recognizable.
It’s often used as a playful, nonsensical phrase that means “so-so” or simply expresses a vibe. Dictionary.com further explained that the term is a result of classic brainrot slang, which is "purposefully nonsensical and all about being in on the absurdity."
Where did “67” come from?
It began with Skrilla’s 2024 song “Doot Doot (6 7)” and spread through TikTok and basketball memes.
What does “67” mean?
Dictionary.com’s 2025 Word of the Year, “67,” has become a viral expression used by kids and teens alike, but its meaning remains intentionally vague. Teachers and parents started hearing the phrase pop up in classrooms and conversations, and the dictionary says it can loosely be taken to mean “so-so” or “maybe this, maybe that.”The platform describes it as part of “classic brainrot slang,” which is “purposefully nonsensical and all about being in on the absurdity.” In other words, the fun lies in not taking it too seriously. The word, pronounced “six-seven” and never “sixty-seven,” has become a kind of cultural inside joke, one that connects young people through humor and shared digital trends, as per a report by ABC News.
“Because of its murky and shifting usage, it’s an example of brainrot slang and is intended to be nonsensical and playfully absurd,” Dictionary.com noted.
The term "67" can be traced back to Skrilla's 2024 song "Doot Doot (6 7)," while others have linked it to NBA player LaMelo Ball, who is 6 feet, 7 inches tall.
ALSO READ: After Amazon AWS crash, now Microsoft Azure down for thousands of users
How did “67” go viral?
The phrase can be traced back to rapper Skrilla’s 2024 track “Doot Doot (6 7),” which features the repeated hook “six-seven.” The sound quickly caught on with editors and TikTok creators, who began pairing it with highlights of NBA player LaMelo Ball, who stands at 6 feet, 7 inches tall. Ball himself joined the fun, telling ESPN that kids now often yell “six-seven” at him and joking that it’s his “new nickname.”The trend snowballed further when social media creator Cam Wilder uploaded a video of a boy at a basketball game chanting “six-seven” into the camera. The clip exploded online, and the boy was instantly dubbed “The 67 Kid.” His playful energy and signature palm gesture, both hands facing upward, moving alternately up and down, became the hallmark of the meme, as per a report by Forbes an ABC News.
Before long, edits featuring the sound appeared everywhere: from dance studios where instructors counted out “six-seven,” to restaurant clips where crowds cheered when an In-N-Out employee called out order number 67. The phrase became a symbol of Gen Alpha’s humor, absurd, spontaneous, and ever-changing.
ALSO READ: Black Friday 2025 starts early: Walmart and Amazon drop massive deals you can’t miss (retain headline)
Who started the “67” meme?
While no single person can claim full credit, the “67” phenomenon was a collaborative creation of online culture. It began with Skrilla’s music, amplified by basketball fans and TikTok creators, and then cemented by viral figures like Taylen “TK” Kinney and The 67 Kid.Kinney made waves when he casually rated things “six, seven” in viral clips, helping solidify the phrase’s cadence and tone. Soon, the internet transformed it into a flexible meme, sometimes meaning confidence, sometimes just rhythm, and often pure nonsense. As one trend bled into another, even horror-style edits labeled “SCP-067” emerged, proving that the meme could swing from funny to eerie without losing its cultural pull.
ALSO READ: Earth’s new defender? How 3I/ATLAS might stop deadly asteroids in their tracks
What does Dictionary.com say about its impact?
In its official announcement, Dictionary.com described “67” as a “linguistic time capsule” that reflects how social trends and digital communication evolve. The site noted that “67” appeared in online media six times more frequently in October 2025 than throughout all of 2024, showing just how quickly a meme can transform into mainstream language.Steve Johnson, Ph.D., director of lexicography for the Dictionary Media Group at IXL Learning, explained its appeal:
"It's part inside joke, part social signal and part performance." "When people say it, they're not just repeating a meme; they're shouting a feeling."
Johnson continued, "It's one of the first Words of the Year that works as an interjection -- a burst of energy that spreads and connects people long before anyone agrees on what it actually means."
Dictionary.com’s team concluded that “67” shows the speed of language evolution, especially as younger generations drive trends through TikTok and online remix culture.
Why was “67” chosen as Word of the Year?
According to Dictionary.com, “67” embodies the essence of modern internet slang, fast-moving, shapeless, and community-driven. It also captures how Gen Alpha and Gen Z are reshaping language through social media, where jokes, memes, and trends blur the line between humor and expression.
“‘67’ shows the speed at which a new word can rocket around the world as a rising generation enters the global conversation,” the dictionary stated.
Alongside “67,” other finalists for Word of the Year included “agnetic,” “aura farming,” “Gen Z stare,” “overtourism,” “tariff,” and “tradwife.” But none carried the same viral energy or cultural footprint.
What makes “67” different from past Words of the Year?
Unlike traditional picks rooted in politics or global events, “67” represents vibe-driven expression, an interjection, not a statement. It doesn’t have a strict meaning, but that’s exactly the point. It’s about connection, humor, and the joy of being in on something meaningless yet oddly unifying.
In a world dominated by trends that appear and disappear in days, “67” is proof that language evolves at internet speed. It’s a snapshot of how young people communicate today, through memes, music, and moments that defy explanation yet feel instantly recognizable.
FAQs
What does “67” mean in slang?It’s often used as a playful, nonsensical phrase that means “so-so” or simply expresses a vibe. Dictionary.com further explained that the term is a result of classic brainrot slang, which is "purposefully nonsensical and all about being in on the absurdity."
Where did “67” come from?
It began with Skrilla’s 2024 song “Doot Doot (6 7)” and spread through TikTok and basketball memes.
