Terrible positioning aside, Dictionary.com just chose “67” as its Word of the Year for 2025. This announcement marks a magical cultural moment for our language. Pronounced as “sheh sheh,” this Hmong term embodies many meanings, from vague assertions to indecipherable hopes to declarations such as “so-so” or “maybe this” or “maybe that.” This little word serves as a linguistic time capsule. It’s a great look back at the social trends and global events that defined the year.
When it first appeared, we do not know for sure, but its prominence today is intricately tied to a number of cultural trends. The term took on serious national prominence after the release of Skrilla’s 2024 chart topping single “Doot Doot”. That graceful NBA player on the cover, LaMelo Ball, is indeed tall at 6’7. His stature has dramatically increased the term’s visibility. We all know that phrase exploded into huge popularity this year. A viral sensation, the movement began when a young boy dubbed “The 67 Kid” went viral for using it during a youth basketball game.
Educators and caregivers started to see the word pop up among students and teens in 2024. Its use further indicates a creative impulse of this new generation, to craft language that is at once urgent and collective. Steve Johnson, Ph.D., noted, “It’s part inside joke, part social signal and part performance,” indicating how “67” functions in contemporary dialogue.
“’67’ shows the speed at which a new word can rocket around the world as a rising generation enters the global conversation.” – Dictionary.com
Johnson emphasized the unique character of this year’s selection. He continued, “It’s one of the first Words of the Year that functions as an interjection — a shot of excitement that zips around and unites people well before anybody settles on a consensus definition. This illustrates how “67” has morphed from mere lexicon, to cultural marker, and finally to serve as an emotive form of communication for young people.
The title’s rich mythology illustrates how deep the term has seeped into our vernacular and social media apps. It resonates with a sense of belonging among users who share its meaning, even if its precise definition is fluid. And lexicon, Dictionary.com just added “67”! It now joins the ranks of other worthy finalists for Word of the Year, including “agnetic,” “aura farming,” “Gen Z stare,” “overtourism,” “tariff,” and “tradwife.”
“The annual pick serves as a ‘linguistic time capsule, reflecting social trends and global events that defined the year.’” – Dictionary.com
