Every generation has its nonsense words. For Boomers, it was “groovy.” Gen X threw around “rad.” Millennials went with “YOLO,” while Gen Z brought us “yeet” and “slay.” Now, enter Gen Alpha—the kids currently filling classrooms—who have birthed a slang phrase so confusing, so stripped of meaning, that even seasoned internet dwellers are scratching their heads.
Yes, just two numbers. Nothing more.
It’s being whispered, shouted, and spammed across TikTok, Instagram, and playgrounds. Teachers hear it in class. Parents hear it at dinner. And no one outside Gen Alpha can seem to figure out what it means—or if it even does mean anything.
Where Did “6 7” Come From?
The origins are as ridiculous as the phrase itself. It began with a rap track called Doot Doot (6 7) by Skrilla. The lyrics repeat the phrase “six-seven” over and over in a hypnotic loop.
Somewhere in the endless remix factory of TikTok, a clip from the song took off. Kids chopped it up, looped it into memes, and soon enough, the numbers became a joke of their own.
But the story didn’t stop there. Basketball fans quickly pointed out that NBA star LaMelo Ball stands 6 feet 7 inches tall, giving the phrase a random but convenient cultural anchor. Suddenly, “6 7” wasn’t just a noise—it was funny noise with celebrity backup.
And in the world of internet slang, that’s all it takes.
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So, What Does It Actually Mean?
Here’s the fun (and infuriating) truth: it doesn’t mean anything at all.
Depending on who you ask, “6 7” can:
- Be filler when you don’t know what else to say.
- Mean “mid” or average.
- Make a passing reference to someone tall.
- Or just exist for the sake of existing.
In short, the meaning is irrelevant. The humor comes from its meaninglessness. Think of it like an inside joke that grew too big to be contained—everyone repeats it because everyone else does, and the lack of a clear definition only makes it funnier.
This type of slang is sometimes called “anti-language”—words or phrases designed to confuse outsiders while bonding insiders. Kids aren’t just saying “6 7” to communicate. They’re saying it to feel part of a group that “gets it.”
Teachers in the Trenches
While parents may find the trend mildly baffling, teachers are the ones on the frontlines.
Some have thrown up their hands and banned it altogether. One teacher admitted that after weeks of hearing the numbers shouted during lessons, she simply couldn’t take it anymore. Her verdict: “It’s brain rot. They can’t even explain what it means. That’s my 67 cents.”
Others, however, have gotten creative. One maths teacher shared with Kidspot that she cleverly turned it into a classroom tool. She counts up to five, pauses, and waits for the students to finish with a gleeful “6…7!” before they collapse into laughter.
Another teacher leaned into the silliness by weaving it into lessons. When reading aloud, she’d casually say, “We’re on page 6 and 7,” while mimicking the viral hand gesture. The class would erupt, and then she’d reel them back to the task. She even gave them a writing challenge: explain the origin of “6 7” in exactly 67 words.
For some, this playful approach works. For others, the fad has stretched their patience thin. But one thing’s clear—teachers today aren’t just competing with phones. They’re competing with memes.
A Long History of Meaningless Slang
If you’re over 25 and feel like “6 7” is the dumbest thing you’ve ever heard, here’s a reality check: your generation did it too.
- 1950s: Kids threw around “hep” and “groovy” without much concern for whether it made sense.
- 1990s: Words like “wassup” or “phat” meant everything and nothing all at once.
- 2000s: “YOLO” (You Only Live Once) became a rallying cry, often shouted before doing something reckless—until it was repeated so often it became meaningless.
- 2010s: Gen Z coined “yeet,” which started as a dance move and quickly became a universal word for throwing something—or just expressing excitement.
Slang thrives on inside-ness. Its power lies in the fact that adults don’t understand it, making it a secret code among kids. In that sense, “6 7” fits neatly into a long tradition.
Why Kids Love Inside Jokes
Psychologists point out that slang like “6 7” isn’t just silliness—it’s a form of social bonding.
When kids repeat a phrase that seems meaningless, they’re not just parroting words. They’re signaling membership in a group. If you say “6 7” and someone laughs instead of looking confused, you’ve found your people.
It’s a bit like wearing a fandom T-shirt or quoting a line from a favorite show—you’re broadcasting that you belong to the same cultural universe as the listener.
And in the hyper-connected, fast-scrolling world of Gen Alpha, this kind of instant shorthand is powerful. It’s easy, portable, and silly enough to bring a moment of joy in the middle of a dull school day.
When Memes Take Over the Classroom
The “6 7” craze also shows just how deeply internet culture has seeped into everyday life. What starts on TikTok rarely stays there. Within weeks, it spills into classrooms, cafeterias, and households.
Teachers now report students breaking into laughter at numbers 6 and 7 on a page, or randomly chanting “six-seven” during quiet work time. It’s disruptive, yes—but it’s also proof of how quickly digital humor reshapes real-world behavior.
This isn’t new. Remember the “Deez Nuts” joke? The “What are those?!” meme? The “Baby Shark” song? All of these started online and ended up haunting classrooms, family dinners, and even political debates. “6 7” is simply the latest recruit in this long parade of viral silliness.
Will “6 7” Last?
Probably not. Most slang of this kind burns bright and fizzles fast. “Yeet” had its heyday and faded. “Skrrt” came and went. Even “YOLO” is now more of a punchline than a lifestyle.
That’s because the moment slang becomes too mainstream—or worse, adopted by adults—it loses its magic. The day a parent casually says “6 7” at the dinner table is the day kids officially move on.
But while it lasts, “6 7” will continue to echo in classrooms, hallways, and TikTok comment sections, baffling adults and bonding kids.
The Bigger Picture: Generational Divide
If you’re confused, take comfort in this: you’re supposed to be. Every generation invents language that deliberately excludes the one before it. It’s not personal—it’s cultural evolution.
When adults dismiss kids’ slang as nonsense, they forget that their own slang once sounded just as bizarre to their parents. The only difference now is speed. Thanks to TikTok and Instagram, a slang word can go from obscurity to ubiquity in a matter of days, then vanish just as quickly.
In a way, “6 7” is less about numbers and more about identity. It’s a tiny, meaningless phrase that says, “I belong to this moment, this group, this culture.” And that’s something every generation has done in its own quirky way.
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Final Thoughts: Embracing the Nonsense
At the end of the day, “6 7” is not meant to be profound. It’s a joke with no punchline, a phrase with no meaning, a meme that thrives precisely because it confuses adults.
For Gen Alpha, it’s hilarious. For teachers, it’s either a headache or a handy classroom hack. For parents, it’s just another reminder that yes—you are now officially in the “back in my day” demographic.
So the next time you hear a kid randomly yell “6 7,” don’t overthink it. Smile, shrug, and remember that once upon a time, you probably said something just as absurd.
Because in the end, every generation’s slang boils down to the same thing: finding joy in nonsense.
And right now, for Gen Alpha, nonsense looks like this: 6 7.
Featured image: Freepik.
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