If you’re a parent, teacher, or anyone who spends time around middle schoolers, you’ve probably heard it dozens of times: “67.” Shouted in hallways, muttered during math class, or yelled at sports games, this two-syllable phrase has become the defining slang term of 2025. But what does 67 actually mean? And why won’t kids stop saying it?
In October 2025, Dictionary.com officially named “67” (pronounced “six seven,” not “sixty-seven”) as its Word of the Year, cementing its place in linguistic history. This marks the first time in years that an interjection—rather than a traditional word—has received this honor. The term has generated hundreds of millions of views across TikTok and Instagram, infiltrated NBA and WNBA coverage, appeared in South Park episodes, and driven teachers to implement creative penalties just to get students to stop saying it.
This comprehensive guide explores everything you need to know about 67: its origins, meanings, cultural impact, and why this seemingly nonsensical phrase has captivated an entire generation.
What Does 67 Actually Mean?
Here’s the truth that might frustrate you: 67 doesn’t have a concrete, universal meaning. According to Dictionary.com’s official definition, “perhaps the most defining feature of 67 is that it’s impossible to define. It’s meaningless, ubiquitous, and nonsensical.”
However, the term does have several interpretations depending on context:
The “So-So” Interpretation
When paired with its signature hand gesture—both palms facing up, moving alternately up and down like weighing items on a balance—67 can mean “so-so,” “maybe this, maybe that,” or “about.” It’s essentially a noncommittal response that conveys ambiguity or indifference.
The Nonsensical Response
Kids frequently use 67 as an answer to any question, regardless of whether it makes sense:
- “How tall are you?” “67.”
- “How are you feeling today?” “67.”
- “What’s 120 minus 53?” “67.”
The humor lies in the absurdity of the response, especially when the actual answer happens to be 67.
The Identity Marker
According to Steve Johnson, Director of Lexicography for Dictionary.com, 67 functions as a “group identity marker or symbol of belonging.” It’s Gen Alpha’s way of saying, “I’m part of this generation. This is who I am.” Think of it as an in-group joke that signals membership in youth culture.
Brainrot Slang
67 falls into the category of “brainrot slang”—intentionally nonsensical phrases that thrive on being playfully absurd. The more it confuses or annoys adults, the more entertaining it becomes for kids.
Where Did the 67 Meme Start? The Origin Story
The 67 phenomenon didn’t appear out of nowhere. Its origins can be traced to a specific combination of music, sports, and viral social media moments.
The Skrilla Song Connection
The term originated from the drill rap song “Doot Doot (6 7)” by Skrilla, which features the catchy line “6-7, I just bipped right on the highway” right as the beat drops. The unique way Skrilla delivers “six-seven” in the song made it instantly memorable and ripe for remixing.
LaMelo Ball and Basketball Culture
The meme gained serious traction when TikTok and Instagram users paired audio clips from Skrilla’s song with basketball visuals, particularly featuring NBA player LaMelo Ball, who stands 6 feet 7 inches tall. These viral clips began circulating as early as October 2024, creating a perfect storm of sports culture and music.
The Viral “67 Kid”
One of the earliest and most viral moments came from a youth basketball game where the camera panned to a moppy-haired child in the audience who enthusiastically shouted “six seven” at the camera. This child became known as the “67 Kid” (identified as Maverick Trevillian) and became the face of the meme.
Amplification by Athletes
Several high-profile athletes helped spread the term even further:
- Taylen “TK” Kinney (Overtime Elite league player) amplified the meme among young audiences
- Paige Bueckers (WNBA player) said it during a press conference
- NFL players incorporated the hand gesture into touchdown celebrations
- Shaquille O’Neal appeared in a video referencing 67 (while admitting he doesn’t understand what it means)
Official NBA and WNBA coverage even began referencing the term, legitimizing it within sports culture.
The Evolution: From Subtle Joke to Cultural Phenomenon
| Phase | Timeline | Behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Early Phase | October 2024 – January 2025 | Subtle insertions into Starbucks orders, classroom responses, making it a challenge to use seamlessly |
| Viral Phase | January – October 2025 | Shouting it loudly in hallways, using during every math lesson, sports team obsession |
| Mainstream Phase | October 2025 – Present | Dictionary.com Word of the Year, South Park episode, hundreds of millions of views |
What started as an inside joke evolved into a challenge: how seamlessly could you insert “67” into everyday interactions? Students would work it into classroom discussions, customer service encounters, and casual conversations. But as the meme gained momentum, subtlety disappeared. Now, kids simply shout it for immediate laughs and reactions.
Why Is 67 Dictionary.com’s 2025 Word of the Year?
Dictionary.com’s selection process involves lexicographers analyzing extensive data, including:
- Newsworthy headlines and media coverage
- Social media trends across platforms
- Search engine query patterns
- Real-world conversational impact
Steve Johnson knew they had “something really interesting” when he received an early morning text from his middle school teacher friend pleading: “Do not make six seven word of the year.” That’s when he realized teachers had discovered the phenomenon—and it was too pervasive to ignore.
Johnson celebrated the selection as evidence of “a new generation flexing their linguistic muscles and making a pretty phenomenal impact on the English language.” It’s the first interjection to receive this honor in years, making it “pretty novel and pretty spectacular” from a linguistic perspective.
Other 2025 Word of the Year Contenders
The shortlist included several notable terms reflecting different cultural trends:
- Agentic: AI capable of acting independently like a human agent
- Aura farming: Deliberately cultivating charisma or vibe for online attention
- Gen Z stare: A blank, unbothered facial expression associated with Gen Z
- Overtourism: Negative impacts when too many tourists visit popular destinations
- Tariff: Government-imposed duties on imports/exports
- Tradwife: Women choosing homemaker roles with traditional gender values
The Psychology Behind Why Kids Won’t Stop Saying 67
Understanding why 67 has such staying power requires examining the psychological and social factors at play:
The Annoyance Factor
Here’s the key insight: The more annoyed adults get, the more fun it becomes for kids. When parents groan, teachers implement penalties, or coaches establish “10 burpee rules” for anyone saying 67, it only reinforces the behavior. The reaction is part of the reward.
Belonging and Identity
Child psychologist Dr. Becky offered a thoughtful perspective: saying 67 gives kids a feeling of belonging. Even if the phrase means nothing to adults, it’s not nothing to the kids using it. It’s a shared language that defines their generation and creates instant connection with peers.
Generational Flexing
Just as Millennials had SNL skits, commercial catchphrases, and ’90s movie quotes like “as if” from Clueless, Gen Alpha has 67. It’s a symptom of constantly-online culture where memes spread at lightning speed and evolve rapidly. This is their way of claiming linguistic territory.
The Absurdity Appeal
Gen Alpha and Gen Z humor tends toward the surreal and nonsensical. The fact that 67 has no concrete meaning is precisely what makes it appealing. It’s a rejection of traditional communication norms—humor that exists purely for its own sake.
Real-World Impact: How 67 Invaded Everyday Life
In Classrooms
Teachers report hearing “67” constantly:
- As answers to questions (whether relevant or not)
- During every math lesson when the number appears
- Shouted randomly to get laughs from classmates
- Even kindergarteners have picked it up from older students
Some educators have embraced it as a connection tool. One substitute teacher shared: “As a ‘stop, look, listen’ cue, I used, ‘one, two, three, four, five…’ and the kids immediately said ‘six, seven’ with huge grins on their faces. Definitely won me some street cred.”
On Sports Teams
The term became so prevalent on youth sports teams that coaches implemented creative penalties. One team established a 10 burpee rule for anyone uttering “67” during practice or games—a testament to how disruptive the constant repetition had become.
In Pop Culture
67 has transcended social media to appear in mainstream entertainment, including a recent South Park episode that referenced the meme, signaling its arrival in the broader cultural consciousness.
Is 67 Offensive? What Parents Need to Know
Here’s the good news for concerned parents and educators: 67 is not offensive. Unlike other teen slang that might carry inappropriate meanings, this phrase is:
- Completely harmless in content
- Just annoying, not vulgar or disrespectful
- More benign than previous number-based teen humor (looking at you, 69 and 420)
- A form of playful absurdity rather than rebellion
Your child says 67 because it’s a popular meme that gets reactions from both peers (laughter) and adults (annoyance). That dual response is exactly what makes it entertaining to continue using.
Related Slang: The Rise of “41”
Language evolution never stops, and Gen Alpha is already moving to the next iteration. The term “41” has emerged as “the next 67,” with its own distinct features:
- Origin: The track “41 Song” by Blizzi Boi
- Hand gesture: Palms down, moving back and forth (reminiscent of the hand jive from Grease)
- Usage: Often said alongside 67, with the same cadence as “forty-one”
There’s also “six-sendy,” a mashup of 67 and “get sendy” (action sports slang meaning “go all out” or “commit enthusiastically”), showing how these terms blend and evolve.
Will 67 Die Out Now That It’s “Official”?
There’s a legitimate question about whether Dictionary.com’s recognition signals the beginning of the end for 67’s coolness. When adults define and document youth slang, does it lose its edge?
Historical precedent suggests it might. “Demure” was 2024’s word of the year, and Google Trends shows its usage steadily declined after the official recognition. Once a term becomes too mainstream—when parents start using it ironically or corporations try to capitalize on it—young people often move on.
Steve Johnson quipped that “we might have to wait six or seven months to see where it goes,” acknowledging the unpredictable nature of viral trends.
How Should Parents and Teachers Respond?
Instead of fighting a losing battle, consider these evidence-based approaches:
For Parents:
- Don’t overreact: Your annoyance fuels the behavior. Responding with mild amusement or indifference removes the reward.
- Understand the belonging aspect: This isn’t rebellion; it’s connection. Your child is participating in their generation’s shared language.
- Set reasonable boundaries: It’s fair to request they don’t interrupt serious conversations or use it disrespectfully, but accept it as part of their social world.
- Stay informed: Knowing what 67 means shows you’re engaged with their world without trying to co-opt it.
For Teachers:
- Use it strategically: Some educators successfully incorporate it into classroom management (like the “one, two, three, four, five” technique).
- Channel the energy: If students are this engaged with something, find ways to redirect that enthusiasm toward learning.
- Pick your battles: Unless it’s truly disruptive, consider whether this is worth the conflict.
- Recognize it as linguistic creativity: From an educational perspective, this is language evolution happening in real-time.
The Bigger Picture: What 67 Tells Us About Gen Alpha
Beyond the annoyance factor, 67 offers valuable insights into the generation using it:
- They value absurdist humor: Meaning isn’t always necessary for entertainment
- They’re digitally native: Memes spread and evolve at unprecedented speeds in their world
- They crave belonging: Shared language creates instant community
- They’re linguistically creative: They’re actively shaping language rather than passively accepting it
- They enjoy harmless rebellion: 67 lets them push boundaries without crossing lines
Other Meanings of 67 (Beyond the Meme)
For completeness, here are other contexts where “67” appears:
Phone Code: *67
Dialing *67 before a phone number blocks your caller ID, displaying as “Private” or “Blocked” on the recipient’s phone. This feature has existed long before the meme and serves privacy purposes.
Numerology
In numerological traditions, 67 may signify spiritual growth, introspection, or inner wisdom. This interpretation is unrelated to the Gen Alpha slang usage.
Secret Code for “I Love You”
Occasionally, 67 has been used as a numerical code to express affection, though this usage is far less common than the viral slang meaning.
Frequently Asked Questions About 67
Why is my child obsessed with saying 67?
Your child says 67 because it’s the dominant meme of 2025 among their peer group. It provides a sense of belonging, gets reactions from adults and peers, and requires zero context to be “funny.” The obsession will likely fade as new trends emerge.
How long will the 67 trend last?
Viral trends typically last 6-18 months before declining. Since 67 peaked around October 2025 with the Dictionary.com announcement, expect it to gradually fade through early-to-mid 2026, though it may persist in certain communities longer.
Is there any way to make my students stop saying 67?
Directly trying to ban it often backfires. Instead, set clear contexts where it’s inappropriate (during tests, presentations, or serious discussions) while accepting it in casual moments. Some teachers have successfully neutralized it by using it themselves, which often makes it “uncool.”
What’s the hand gesture that goes with 67?
The signature 67 hand gesture involves holding both palms facing up and moving them alternately up and down, as if weighing items on a balance scale. This accompanies the phrase to suggest “so-so” or ambiguity.
Is 67 part of a larger trend in teen slang?
Yes, 67 represents the “brainrot” slang category—intentionally nonsensical phrases that thrive on absurdity. Similar terms include “skibidi,” “rizz,” “gyatt,” and now “41.” This reflects Gen Alpha’s preference for surreal, meaning-optional humor.
Conclusion: Embracing the Linguistic Chaos
So what does 67 mean? The paradoxical answer is: everything and nothing. It’s a sound, a gesture, a symbol of belonging, an annoyance tool, and a linguistic phenomenon all rolled into one two-syllable package.
Dictionary.com’s recognition of 67 as the 2025 Word of the Year validates what parents and teachers have been experiencing firsthand: this isn’t just a passing fad, but a genuine cultural moment that reflects how Gen Alpha communicates, connects, and creates meaning (or deliberately doesn’t).
Rather than fighting against it, we can appreciate 67 for what it represents—a generation finding their voice, even if that voice is saying something that makes absolutely no sense to the rest of us. After all, every generation has had their “thing” that baffled their elders. Gen Alpha’s just happens to be a number with a hand gesture.
The real question isn’t “what does 67 mean?” but rather “what will they come up with next?” And if Steve Johnson’s prediction is correct, we’ll find out in about six or seven months.