What Does Six Seven Mean? Slang Origin & Meme

You’ve probably heard a kid suddenly shout “six-seven” in the hallway, or seen the phrase pop up in a meme without any obvious meaning. It is a slang term with no fixed definition, and that is exactly the point. This article traces the term from its origins in a 2023 drill rap song through its explosion on TikTok and into classrooms, and explains why it means both nothing and everything at the same time.

Known origin: drill rap song “Doot Doot” (2023) ·
Primary use: nonsensical shout-out by teens and tweens ·
Alternative meaning: NBA player height 6’7″; rugby league halfback 5’8″ ·
First widely tracked reference: Merriam-Webster slang dictionary (2024) ·
Public awareness spike: The Guardian article (October 2025)

The table below shows four key dimensions of the term — its origin, dictionary recognition, audience, and reach — and one pattern emerges: the term defies a single definition yet has been formally catalogued by major reference works.

What is the meaning of 67?

“Six seven” (also written 6-7, 6 7, or 67) is an internet slang term and meme that spread from the drill song “Doot Doot (6 7)” by Skrilla, according to Dictionary.com slang encyclopedia. The term has no fixed meaning — it is used as a nonsensical exclamation or shout-out, often in viral videos and memes.

Where did the term 6-7 come from?

The term originated from a drill rap song released in 2023. Skrilla’s “Doot Doot (6 7)” features the repeated chant of “six-seven” as a lyric. Merriam-Webster slang dictionary states that the phrase migrated from the song into “viral videos and memes featuring NBA player LaMelo Ball,” showing an early sports-meme linkage.

Georgetown University linguistics research frames the origin as “likely” from the song and viral videos, indicating some residual uncertainty about a single definitive source. The university’s linguistic analysis, published on 2025-10-23, treats the term as a genuine case study in how internet language spreads.

Is 6-7 a real word or just a meme?

It is not a real word in the formal sense. Dictionary.com slang encyclopedia categorizes it as slang — a term used informally, often as a performative shout rather than a lexical item with dictionary meaning. Merriam-Webster’s entry, updated on 2026-05-31, similarly labels it slang with the definition “used as a nonsensical exclamation.”

The implication: a word that means nothing can still have a clear origin and cultural impact — and that paradox is exactly what makes “six seven” worth understanding.

What does six seven mean in slang?

In slang, “six seven” means nothing specific. Dictionary.com slang encyclopedia describes it as “shouted as a meme with no fixed meaning.” Users simply repeat the phrase in videos, comments, and real life as a signal of being in on the joke.

What does 6s and 7s mean in slang?

The phrase “at sixes and sevens” is an older English idiom meaning “in a state of confusion or disarray.” It originates from 14th-century dice games and is documented in Merriam-Webster slang dictionary as a completely separate expression from the modern “six seven.”

What is the difference between six seven and sixes and sevens?

The two phrases share numeric structure but nothing else. “At sixes and sevens” is an established idiom with a clear meaning (confusion), while “six seven” is a modern meme with no fixed definition. Dictionary.com slang encyclopedia explicitly distinguishes the two, noting that any connection between them is coincidental.

The pattern: language evolution can produce identical-sounding phrases from completely different lineages. The 14th-century dice idiom and the 2023 drill chant happen to share numbers but not meaning.

Why do kids say 6-7?

Kids say “6-7” as a joke with no real meaning. Forbes media analysis notes that the phrase is “often shouted in classrooms or on social media” as a performative act — the point is not to communicate a message but to participate in a shared cultural moment.

What does it mean for someone to be 67?

In basketball context, being 6-7 refers to a player who is six feet seven inches tall. Merriam-Webster slang dictionary notes that the term spread through “viral videos and memes featuring NBA player LaMelo Ball,” who is 6’7″. This sports usage predates and parallels the slang meaning.

Why are kids saying 6-7 and what does it mean?

The phrase gained popularity because it makes no sense. People culture coverage explains that the “six seven trend derives from the song ‘Doot Doot (6 7)’ by Skrilla” and that its meaninglessness is part of its appeal. It is a shared inside joke among teens and tweens.

The trade-off: the term’s meaninglessness makes it harmless, but also frustrating for adults trying to understand what their kids are saying. For students, shouting “six-seven” is a way to signal membership in a digital-native culture that values shared references over fixed meanings.

What does six mean in slang?

“Six” in slang can carry multiple meanings depending on context. In gang culture, “six” may refer to specific codes or affiliations. In the internet slang space, however, “six seven” is a standalone term not derived from any numerical code. Dictionary.com slang encyclopedia confirms that the phrase has no connection to “code ten six seven (10-67)” or any other coded meaning.

What does 6-7 mean in Gen Z culture?

In Gen Z culture, “6-7” is a meme — a shared reference with no fixed semantic weight. Georgetown University linguistics research describes it as a case study in how “young people recycle cultural fragments” into new forms of social speech. The term functions as a linguistic badge of belonging.

Is there a love idiom connection to six seven?

No. Despite some Reddit community discussion speculation about romantic connotations, “six seven” is not part of any love idiom, number code for love, or hidden romantic message. A Facebook social media discussion group post claimed the term means nothing and is used to provoke adults — which aligns with the idea of a performative meme rather than a fixed lexical meaning.

The pattern: “six seven” resists every attempt to assign it a fixed meaning. It is a linguistic blank canvas that derives its power from being unfixed.

What does it mean to be called a 6-7?

Being called a “6-7” is not an insult or compliment in the slang context — it is simply being referenced as part of the meme. Dictionary.com slang encyclopedia notes that the term “is not an insult or threat” when used among peers.

What does it mean if someone says you are 67?

In the basketball context, being called “6-7” means you are being compared to a player who is six feet seven inches tall. Merriam-Webster slang dictionary documents that the term’s spread included “NBA player LaMelo Ball,” making the height reference a secondary but recognized meaning.

How do you say I love you in idioms?

Idioms for love — such as “head over heels,” “sweep someone off their feet,” or “have a crush on” — are separate from the “six seven” meme. Dictionary.com slang encyclopedia explicitly states that there is no love idiom connection to the slang term. The two should not be confused.

The implication: in a world where every phrase seems to carry hidden meanings, “six seven” is refreshingly meaningless — and that is precisely its function.

Timeline: How the “six seven” meme evolved

The term’s spread follows a clear trajectory from music to mainstream media, as shown in the timeline below.

• 2023: Drill rap song “Doot Doot (6 7)” by Skrilla is released, featuring the repeated chant of “six-seven” (Dictionary.com slang encyclopedia)
• 2024: Merriam-Webster adds “six seven” as a slang entry, listing it as “used as a nonsensical exclamation” (Merriam-Webster slang dictionary)
• 2025-09-29: Forbes publishes an explainer: “What Does 6-7 Mean? The TikTok Meme Explained” (Forbes media analysis)
• 2025-10-23: Georgetown University publishes linguistic analysis of the meme (Georgetown University linguistics research)
• 2025-10-30: People magazine publishes its explainer on the trend (People culture coverage)
• October 2025: The Guardian publishes article “Six-seven: what does the latest slang mean?” (The Guardian news media)
• 2026-05-31: Merriam-Webster’s slang entry last updated (Merriam-Webster slang dictionary)
• 2026-06-18: Dictionary.com’s entry updated, confirming the term remained active into mid-2026 (Dictionary.com slang encyclopedia)

Clarity: What we know and what remains uncertain

Confirmed facts

• The term originated from the drill song “Doot Doot (6 7)” by Skrilla (Merriam-Webster slang dictionary)
• It has no fixed meaning and is used as a nonsensical exclamation (Dictionary.com slang encyclopedia)
• It is primarily used by younger demographics (teens and tweens) (Georgetown University linguistics research)
• Merriam-Webster added it as a slang entry in 2024 (Merriam-Webster slang dictionary)
• The meme spread globally via TikTok and viral videos (Forbes media analysis)

What remains unclear

• Whether the 6-7 gesture refers to a specific hand sign or simply a number (Georgetown University linguistics research)
• If the rugby league reference (5’8″) is a separate usage or a joke (Straight Dope Message Board public discussion)
• Whether users understand any fixed reference or just perform the meme (Reddit community discussion)

“‘Six seven’ is a textbook example of how internet slang can spread without any fixed meaning — it is purely performative, a signal of belonging rather than a vehicle for communication.”

— Georgetown University linguistics research

“The term derives from a drill rap song and became a viral meme because it makes no sense — that is the appeal.”

— Forbes media analysis

“Kids shout ‘6-7’ in classrooms as a joke — they are not insulting anyone, they are just participating in a shared cultural reference.”

— People culture coverage

“In my classroom, students shout ‘six-seven’ randomly. They don’t mean anything by it — it’s just a sound they’ve picked up from TikTok.”

— Teacher on Reddit educator community

The consequence: “Six seven” is a linguistic Rorschach test — it means nothing, which means it can mean anything. For parents and teachers, the term is harmless and best understood as a cultural reference rather than a coded message. For linguists and cultural observers, it is a perfect case study in how Gen Z recycles fragments of music, sports, and internet culture into new forms of social speech. The term’s trajectory from a drill song to a dictionary entry in under two years shows how fast language can evolve in the digital age — and how meaninglessness can itself become meaningful.

For those still puzzled by the term, six seven slang meaning a thorough explanation of the six seven meme is available.

Frequently asked questions