Absurd Humor and TikTok Trends Top Iowa’s Slang Searches

Slang is something every generation seems to create simply for that specific group.

I grew up on slang words/terms like "Talk to the hand" and "da bomb", so I'm a bit... out of the loop on how kids talk today.

To determine Iowa's most commonly used slang terms for 2025, I needed help from Unscrambler, Google (both for research), and someone under 25.

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The results... confusing.

Iowa's Most Used Slang Terms for 2025

Slang evolves quickly, and in 2025, the most-searched terms in Iowa and across the U.S. show just how much social media, streaming, and online culture shape the way people talk.

Remember when texting on poorly laid out QWERTY keyboards molded our slang? WTF happened to those days?

According to research by Unscramblerer.com, the top slang word Iowans looked up this year is “6-7,” which is a phrase with no literal meaning that went viral thanks to TikTok, basketball star LaMelo Ball, and absurdist “brainrot” humor.

Other heavily searched terms in Iowa include “sigma” (a self-reliant “lone wolf”), “sybau” (a blunt shut-down phrase), “bop” (a derogatory word for someone seen as promiscuous), and “chopped” (used to describe something unattractive).

Yikes. I feel very old. I knew none of those...

Results Across the Country

Nationwide, “6-7” also tops the list with more than 141,000 searches, followed by “bop,” “mogging” (outclassing someone else), and “huzz” (an affectionate term for an attractive person).

Terms like “delulu” (delusional expectations about relationships or celebrities), “fanum tax” (playfully stealing food from a friend), and “Ohio” (used to describe something strange or absurd) also made the rankings.

Confused yet? As am I. At least I can still use "talk to the hand" in my own circles. No one I know uses it, but hey, it's still fun to say.

How The Results Were Reached

The study analyzed Google Trends data from January through September 2025, along with Ahrefs search volume, to determine which slang words Americans and Iowans were most curious about.

How does our slang compare to Illinois?