Oxford University Press has unveiled its highly anticipated Children's Word of the Year for 2025, with peace emerging as the top choice among young people across the United Kingdom. The announcement follows extensive research conducted throughout 2025, gathering insights from nearly 5,000 children aged between six and fourteen years old.
Survey Results and Current Affairs Awareness
According to the comprehensive study, 35 per cent of participating children selected peace as their word of the year, demonstrating a significant awareness of global events. The runner-up position went to AI for the second consecutive year, chosen by 33 per cent of respondents, while resilience secured third place with 21 per cent support.
When asked to explain their choice of peace, approximately one in ten children directly referenced war, specifically mentioning ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. This connection highlights how current international affairs are influencing young minds and their linguistic choices.
Historical Context and Language Trends
Analysis of the Oxford Children's Corpus, a substantial database containing over half a billion words from children's writing, reveals a notable trend. Mentions of peace in stories submitted to the BBC 500 Words competition have increased by 60 per cent since 2015, indicating a growing preoccupation with this concept among younger generations.
Regarding the continued popularity of AI as a significant term, 20 per cent of children who selected this word mentioned hearing and talking about artificial intelligence in their daily lives. Similar to previous findings, children expressed predominantly positive emotions about AI, with more than ten per cent using words like excited or exciting to describe their feelings.
Slang Word of the Year Revealed
In a separate but related category, children overwhelmingly selected six-seven as their slang word of the year, with 47 per cent of respondents choosing this term. This was followed by aura at 24 per cent and delulu at 7 per cent.
Research into the usage of six-seven among children revealed that this term fosters inclusivity and serves as social currency within peer groups. Nearly one in ten children mentioned friends when explaining how they use the word, while popular frequently appeared in descriptions of what six-seven means to them. Additionally, more than a quarter (28 per cent) cited fun and laugh in connection with the term.
Educational Insights and Expert Commentary
Andrea Quincey, director of early years and primary publishing at Oxford University Press, commented on the findings: "A key theme we see from our Oxford Children's Word of the Year research is just how attuned children are to current affairs. This year is no different; whether that's calling for peace in response to current conflicts or highlighting how AI has permeated daily life."
Quincey further noted: "Perhaps it's no surprise that 'six-seven' is voted, overwhelmingly, as their slang word of the year. A word which brings them laughter and joy and connection with friends. We see how important it is for children to have agency over their language away from the grown-up world and share words that adults can't understand."
The Oxford University Press is now calling for schools to participate in the 2026 research programme, aiming to capture more regional voices and colloquial expressions. "This year's research demonstrates just how important it is that we continue to research children's language and support their vocabulary development as it plays a vital role in their self-expression," Quincey added.
Literacy Perspectives and Future Initiatives
Jonathan Douglas, chief executive of the National Literacy Trust, emphasised the broader significance of these findings: "Language plays a profound role in shaping our society, culture and identity. Understanding how children and young people make sense of the words they encounter in their daily lives, take ownership of them and play with their meaning, demonstrates the power of language for helping us comprehend the world around us and our place in it."
Douglas highlighted upcoming educational initiatives: "The National Year of Reading will enable us to give more children and young people new opportunities to experience language in ways that are fun, relevant and help them connect with others. Throughout the year, we will work with Oxford University Press and a number of incredible authors to bring the magic of reading and words to life for children and young people across the UK."
The annual Oxford Children's Word of the Year research continues to provide valuable insights into the evolving language landscape of younger generations, reflecting both their engagement with global issues and their creation of distinctive peer vocabulary.
