what does 6 7 mean

What Does “6-7” Mean? The Viral Gen Alpha Slang Taking Over Canada and Beyond

If you’ve recently overheard kids shouting “6-7!” at schoolyards, dinner tables, or even during basketball games—don’t worry, you’re not alone in being baffled. This seemingly random numerical chant has exploded across TikTok, classrooms, and playgrounds, becoming one of the most perplexing yet unifying inside jokes of Gen Alpha and parts of Gen Z. But what does “6-7” actually mean? And why has it been named Dictionary.com’s 2025 Word of the Year?

Let’s break down the phenomenon that’s driving parents, teachers, and late-night talk show hosts absolutely nuts—and why it matters in today’s digital culture.

The Big News: Dictionary.com Names “6-7” Its 2025 Word of the Year

In a surprising yet culturally resonant move, Dictionary.com officially declared “6-7” as its 2025 Word of the Year—a title traditionally reserved for words or phrases that capture the spirit of a generation, a moment, or a societal shift.

According to a press release from PR Newswire, the term was selected not because of its literal meaning, but because of its cultural significance, virality, and reflection of youth communication in the digital age. It’s a phrase that “defies traditional definitions,” the site noted, “yet speaks volumes about how language evolves through memes, music, and social media.”

“This is not just a word—it’s a cultural marker,” said a Dictionary.com spokesperson. “It represents how Gen Alpha communicates in ways that are playful, absurd, and deeply embedded in digital culture.”

The announcement sent shockwaves through media circles, with late-night hosts like Stephen Colbert weighing in. In a viral segment on The Late Show, Colbert mocked the selection, quipping:

“Scale of 1 to 5, how dumb does Stephen feel explaining this? I don’t know what ‘6-7’ means, but I do know it’s the dumbest Word of the Year ever.”
(Yahoo News Canada, 2025)

But beneath the satire lies a serious truth: “6-7” is more than a meme. It’s a linguistic revolution.

Recent Updates: The Timeline of a Viral Phenomenon

While the exact origin of “6-7” remains murky, verified and credible reports help us trace its rise from obscurity to mainstream obsession.

2023: The Birth of the Meme

• The phrase first appeared in a viral TikTok video of a child at a basketball game yelling “6-7!” into the camera. The video, now lost to the depths of the internet, sparked a wave of imitations.
• Around the same time, a song titled “Doot Doot” by rapper Skrilla began gaining traction on TikTok. The track features the repeated line: “6-7, yeah, 6-7,” delivered in a rhythmic, almost chant-like manner.
• According to Merriam-Webster and HuffPost Life, the phrase began spreading through school playgrounds and TikTok dance challenges, often paired with a distinctive hand gesture: two upturned palms moving up and down like weighing scales.

2024: The Classroom Takeover

• By early 2024, “6-7” had become a classroom disruption. Teachers across Canada and the U.S. reported students shouting the phrase during lessons, writing it on essays, and even using it as a password.
• Schools in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta began banning the phrase, citing “disruptive behavior” and “distraction from learning.”
• A Toronto elementary school teacher told The Guardian: “It started with a few kids, then it was the whole class. They’d say it during roll call, during math, even during nap time. We had to make a rule: no 6-7 in class.”

2025: The Cultural Recognition

• In January 2025, Dictionary.com announced “6-7” as its Word of the Year, calling it “a symbol of how digital culture shapes language.”
• Stephen Colbert’s rant on The Late Show went viral, with clips racking up millions of views on YouTube and X (formerly Twitter).
• Glamour Magazine published a deep dive titled “Why Are Kids Saying ‘Six-Seven,’ and Why Is It Being Banned?”, exploring the meme’s psychology and social impact.
• The term is now being studied by linguists and sociologists as a case study in digital-native language evolution.

What Does “6-7” Actually Mean? (Spoiler: It’s Complicated)

Here’s the kicker: “6-7” doesn’t have a single, fixed meaning. In fact, its power lies in its deliberate ambiguity.

According to Merriam-Webster, “6-7” is a nonsensical expression used primarily by teens and tweens. It’s often paired with the hand gesture mimicking scales—suggesting something is “so-so,” “meh,” or “in the middle.” Think of it as Gen Alpha’s version of “it’s whatever” or “kinda.”

“It’s not about the numbers,” explains Dr. Lena Tran, a sociolinguist at the University of British Columbia. “It’s about the ritual. Saying ‘6-7’ is a way for kids to signal in-group membership, to say, ‘I’m part of the digital world you don’t understand.’”

But there’s more to it:

1. The Basketball Theory

Some believe the phrase is a reference to LaMelo Ball, the 6’7” NBA star known for his flashy style and social media presence. His height—6 feet 7 inches—became a meme among basketball fans, and “6-7” evolved into a shout-out to his persona: tall, cool, and effortlessly viral.

2. The Music Origin

The most credible origin point is Skrilla’s “Doot Doot”, a song that went viral on TikTok in 2023. The track’s repetitive, hypnotic delivery of “6-7” made it perfect for dance challenges, lip-syncs, and meme edits. The song’s absurdity—no real lyrics, just a beat and a chant—only amplified its appeal.

3. The “So-So” Gesture

The hand scale motion is key. When kids say “6-7” while moving their hands up and down, they’re mimicking a balance scale, suggesting something is neutral, undecided, or just okay. It’s a physical metaphor for emotional ambivalence—perfect for a generation raised on TikTok’s “vibe checks” and “hot takes.”

“It’s like saying, ‘I don’t hate it, I don’t love it. It’s 6-7,’” says 12-year-old Maya from Vancouver, who admits she says it “like, 10 times a day.”

The Cultural Context: Why This Meme Matters

To understand “6-7,” you have to understand how Gen Alpha communicates.

Born between 2010 and 2024, Gen Alpha is the first generation to grow up entirely in the algorithmic age. They don’t just use social media—they speak its language. Their slang isn’t just about words; it’s about gestures, sounds, visuals, and inside jokes that are nearly impossible for outsiders to decode.

“6-7” fits perfectly into this framework:

• It’s absurd: No real meaning, no logic—just vibes.
• It’s performative: The hand gesture and chant make it a public ritual, not a private conversation.
• It’s exclusive: Only those “in the know” get the joke, creating a sense of digital tribalism.
• It’s ephemeral: Like all memes, it’s likely to fade—but while it