America is in the grip of linguistic panic, and the main culprit is a phrase that has left countless adults scratching their heads: 'six-seven'. This innocuous-sounding expression has taken on a life of its own among younger generations, but its meaning is refreshingly ambiguous.
At first glance, it appears to have no definition. But as linguists Dr Nicole Holliday and Dr Daria Bahtina reveal, the phrase has its roots in internet culture, with Philadelphia rapper Skrilla and NBA player LaMelo Ball being among those who popularized it. It was later picked up by 17-year-old basketball star Taylen Kinney, who used it to describe a Starbucks drink.
The beauty of 'six-seven' lies in its exclusivity – people like to say it because they feel part of an inner circle that gets the joke. Holliday explains, "This is just human development... Part of the psychosocial development of young people is differentiating themselves from their community, from older people, and establishing their own identity." The phrase becomes a tool for self-expression and belonging.
But as social media spreads like wildfire, 'six-seven' quickly loses its exclusivity. Adults start demanding explanations, and once they do, the phrase becomes stale – it's no longer an insider's joke. Holliday notes, "They have to keep outrunning us old people." The result is that new slang terms must constantly emerge to fill the void.
This frenzy of language can be overwhelming for kids themselves, who may struggle to keep up and feel left out. However, Bahtina argues that this process also creates a sense of community. When Holliday yelled 'six-seven' at a marathon, she connected with a group of young fans in a moment of shared understanding.
The phrase 'brain rot' – coined by some to describe the supposed downfall of language among younger generations – is misguided. The truth is that slang evolves as it spreads, and its meanings shift over time. As Bahtina notes, "it looks like 'brain rot' from the outside but actually follows the same sociolinguistic logic as every previous generation's creative language play."
In fact, words like 'skibidi', which Merriam-Webster describes as a "nonsense internet term", have been around for years. And terms like 'sigma' can be either complimentary or confusing – it all depends on the context.
So what's different about today's kids and their slang? For one, they disseminate language so quickly that adults get caught up in the whirlwind of new phrases. Bahtina suggests that this rapid exchange creates a sense of "algorithm-driven" community, where words are constantly being generated and consumed.
Ultimately, the story of 'six-seven' – and slang more broadly – is one of human connection and creativity. It may be confusing for adults, but for young people, it's an integral part of their language landscape – a tool for self-expression, belonging, and community-building.
At first glance, it appears to have no definition. But as linguists Dr Nicole Holliday and Dr Daria Bahtina reveal, the phrase has its roots in internet culture, with Philadelphia rapper Skrilla and NBA player LaMelo Ball being among those who popularized it. It was later picked up by 17-year-old basketball star Taylen Kinney, who used it to describe a Starbucks drink.
The beauty of 'six-seven' lies in its exclusivity – people like to say it because they feel part of an inner circle that gets the joke. Holliday explains, "This is just human development... Part of the psychosocial development of young people is differentiating themselves from their community, from older people, and establishing their own identity." The phrase becomes a tool for self-expression and belonging.
But as social media spreads like wildfire, 'six-seven' quickly loses its exclusivity. Adults start demanding explanations, and once they do, the phrase becomes stale – it's no longer an insider's joke. Holliday notes, "They have to keep outrunning us old people." The result is that new slang terms must constantly emerge to fill the void.
This frenzy of language can be overwhelming for kids themselves, who may struggle to keep up and feel left out. However, Bahtina argues that this process also creates a sense of community. When Holliday yelled 'six-seven' at a marathon, she connected with a group of young fans in a moment of shared understanding.
The phrase 'brain rot' – coined by some to describe the supposed downfall of language among younger generations – is misguided. The truth is that slang evolves as it spreads, and its meanings shift over time. As Bahtina notes, "it looks like 'brain rot' from the outside but actually follows the same sociolinguistic logic as every previous generation's creative language play."
In fact, words like 'skibidi', which Merriam-Webster describes as a "nonsense internet term", have been around for years. And terms like 'sigma' can be either complimentary or confusing – it all depends on the context.
So what's different about today's kids and their slang? For one, they disseminate language so quickly that adults get caught up in the whirlwind of new phrases. Bahtina suggests that this rapid exchange creates a sense of "algorithm-driven" community, where words are constantly being generated and consumed.
Ultimately, the story of 'six-seven' – and slang more broadly – is one of human connection and creativity. It may be confusing for adults, but for young people, it's an integral part of their language landscape – a tool for self-expression, belonging, and community-building.
... like is it a drink or what? 
I was at the park with my niece and she started saying it to order her Starbucks latte, but when I asked her what it meant, she just laughed and said "you wouldn't get it" 
. It's like they're all in on some secret joke that us old folks are out of the loop 
. But honestly, I think it's kinda cool that kids have their own way of talking – it makes me feel a bit left behind, but also nostalgic for when slang was new and exciting 
. Does anyone really know what 'six-seven' means? 
, it's like they're trying to drive me crazy! Anyway, back to the news... I think 'six-seven' is actually kind of cool 
It's like Bahtina said, "it looks like 'brain rot' from the outside but actually follows the same sociolinguistic logic as every previous generation's creative language play." 
I feel like I'm constantly playing catch-up on this forum, trying to understand the latest memes and inside jokes 
. It's exhausting! 
Maybe that's just me being an oldie 
but still, it'd be nice if we could all just have a conversation without needing to decode every single phrase 
.
I'm seriously lost here 
.
but at the same time she loves how it's like this exclusive thing that only they get 
anyway i think what's cool about it is how it shows how language evolves and changes over time 
it's just that slang spreads so fast now and then people can get left behind 
anyway i think 'brain rot' is a hella unfair label 
... I mean, what if we're not just talking about language here, but a whole system of control? 
. Like, I get why older folks are stumped by it - we just don't use slang like that no more 
. The way it's become a secret handshake between younger gen, and then suddenly everyone's asking what it means... it's like the internet is just trolling us old folks 
.
. It's like when you're at school and everyone's talking about this super specific meme or joke that you don't get until your friends explain it. Then it's just so over 
i mean, who doesn't want to feel part of an exclusive club?
and we old folks are just trying to catch up.
but then it just becomes old news, right? 
... who knew? 
. i mean, language is always evolving - hasn't been since forever 
. It's like when we were kids and used to say "whatever" or "as if" – now those phrases are ancient history 
, but let's not get too caught up in trying to decode every phrase 
. And isn't it wild how quickly words spread on social media? 
. Can someone pls explain what 'sigma' means tho?