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From ‘67’ to ‘clock it’: Internet slang Filipinos can’t stop searching

Today’s slang may disappear as quickly as it arrives. Tomorrow’s teenagers will probably invent something even harder to understand.

DT · Sep 26, 2026, 4:07 AM

THE popularity of Internet slang reflects how quickly online culture can influence everyday language. — Graphics by Sheila Figueroa

If someone texts you “67” and you have absolutely no idea what they mean, you’re not alone.

Internet slang moves fast. One day, a word is everywhere on TikTok; the next, it has become an inside joke, a punchline, or something your younger sibling refuses to explain. For Filipino Gen Z and Gen Alpha users, keeping up with online language can sometimes feel like learning an entirely new dialect.

Search data from 2026 offers a glimpse into which words have caught the country’s attention. From absurd meme language to terms describing someone’s looks, personality, or online behavior, the most searched slang words reveal just how quickly internet culture becomes part of everyday conversation.

At the top of the list is one of the Internet’s great mysteries: “67.”

With 166,300 monthly searches, “67” has no literal meaning. That’s precisely what makes it funny. The term is associated with the song “Doot Doot (6 7)” by Skrilla and gained another boost after basketball player LaMelo Ball appeared in a trending video referencing his 6-foot-7-inch height.

The result is classic Internet brainrot: a phrase that does not necessarily need to make sense to be funny. Among kids and teens, “67” has become something to shout, chant, and accompany with exaggerated hand gestures.

Then there’s “rizz,” with 34,900 monthly searches. Popularized by Gen Z internet culture, the word refers to someone’s charm or ability to attract a romantic partner. Having rizz, in other words, is having the kind of charisma that gets noticed.

Other highly searched terms are more revealing of how young people talk about status and appearance online.

“Mog,” “mogged” and “mogging” — with 22,800 monthly searches — refer to outclassing someone, particularly in appearance, skill, or perceived success. “Tuff,” searched 21,700 times, is a playful way of calling someone tough or cool.

Meanwhile, “chopped” has become a blunt way of describing someone or something as unattractive or rough-looking.

The Internet also has plenty of vocabulary for calling someone out.

“Cap” means a lie, fake claim, or exaggeration, while “no cap” means the speaker is being serious or truthful. “Clock it,” with 7,200 monthly searches, is used when someone points out or recognizes a truth — often with a sense of agreement.

And if you’ve ever followed someone who follows you back, you have a “moot.” Short for mutual, the term describes people who follow each other on social media.

Some slang is less about what someone says and more about how they present themselves online. “Larping” describes pretending to be something you’re not, particularly by performing a lifestyle or identity for attention. “Unc,” short for uncle, is used jokingly for someone perceived as old, out of touch, or past their prime.

Then there is “aura.” With 9,100 monthly searches, the term has become a way of measuring someone’s intangible cool factor or presence. You can gain or lose “aura points” depending on whether you do something impressive or cringe-worthy. “Aura farming” takes the idea a step further: deliberately doing something because it looks cool.

For gamers, meanwhile, being “cracked” is a compliment. The term describes someone who is exceptionally skilled, particularly at video games.

Not every term on the list is harmless Internet banter. “Foid,” derived from “femoid,” is a derogatory and misogynistic term for women. Its presence among searched slang terms is a reminder that internet vocabulary can also reflect the darker corners of online culture. Similarly, “chud,” which has 9,400 monthly searches, is generally used as an insult for a fool, troll, jerk, or obnoxious person.

Why does everyone want to know what these words mean?

For Randoh Sallihall, a spokesperson for Word Unscrambler, the popularity of these searches is about more than curiosity.

“The most searched slang words of 2026 give insight into the cultural conversations happening in the Philippines,” Sallihall said. “Using slang is a social signal. What people search for can tell us something about what they are trying to understand and participate in culturally.”

Research highlighted by the American Psychological Association, including work by psychologist Ryan Boyd, has examined how language choices can signal identity and social relationships. Research by Alice Damirjian, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Philosophy, has similarly described slang as a way of identifying group affiliation, distinguishing insiders from outsiders, and reinforcing social cohesion.

Today’s slang may disappear as quickly as it arrives. Tomorrow’s teenagers will probably invent something even harder to understand.