The Big Story: What the Word of the Year "6-7" reveals about youth slang

Dictionary.com announced that “6-7” has been selected as its Word of the Year, noting that the term gained rapid traction across social media as a shorthand used by Gen Z and Gen Alpha. According to the platform, the choice reflects how digital communication now favours ultra-compressed expressions, numerical codes, and context-dependent slang. The decision also highlights a broader linguistic trend: youth-driven internet language is evolving at a pace that challenges traditional reference tools and raises questions about whether dictionaries should document, guide, or adapt to these emerging forms. On The Big Story, Nadiah Koh speaks to Jeremiah Sng, Head of Language Arts and Lower Secondary, Academia, to unpack what “6-7” reveals about language today, how slang shapes the way young people communicate, and what this means for educators and students alike.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.