ISLAMABAD, Jan 28: Peace has been selected as Oxford Children’s Word of the Year for 2025, as per research by Oxford University Press (OUP). Approximately 35 percent of children opted for peace, just surpassing a third (33 percent) who chose AI, while 21 percent selected resilience.
The study, conducted in 2025, surveyed nearly 5,000 children across the UK aged 6–14, illustrating the children’s awareness of current events, according to a press release.
One in ten children mentioned ‘war’ as the reason for choosing peace, referencing specific conflicts such as ‘Ukraine’ and ‘Gaza.’
Terms like ‘need’, ‘want’, and ‘should’ were commonly used in their responses, advocating for peace worldwide.
An analysis of the Oxford Children’s Corpus, the world’s largest database of children’s writings in English, reveals that mentions of peace in children’s stories submitted to the BBC 500 Words competition have surged by 60 percent since 2015.
For the second year in a row, AI was chosen as the runner-up. When asked why, a fifth of the children (20 percent) cited ‘hearing’ and ‘talking’ about AI, indicating its widespread presence in daily life.
As was the case last year, when asked how the word made them feel, children gave positive responses, with more than one in ten using the adjectives ‘excited’ or ‘exciting.’ Over a quarter of six- to eight-year-olds (29%) selected AI as their word of the year, showcasing the awareness of even very young children regarding AI’s everyday role.
Nearly half (47 percent) of the children chose ‘six-seven’ as their slang word of the year, followed by ‘aura’ (24 percent) and ‘delulu’ (7 percent). The research showed that using ‘six-seven’ among children promotes inclusivity and social engagement, with nearly one in ten mentioning ‘friends’ when asked about its use. Additionally, ‘fun’ and ‘laugh’ were frequently cited, along with 28 percent referring to it as ‘popular.’
While more than one in ten (12%) of children admitted ‘six-seven’ had no clear meaning, the majority emphasized the value of such words, with 72 percent stating it was important to have words exclusive to use with friends.
OUP is inviting schools to participate in the upcoming Oxford Children’s Word of the Year to further enhance children’s reading, vocabulary development, and oracy skills.
Schools are encouraged to hold ‘word of the year’ discussions throughout the academic year and vote for their 2026 selection. OUP has developed an activity pack with tips and resources for participation, including strategies to encourage book discussions and language growth. More details on how schools can download the pack and join in are available.
To commemorate the announcement and support the National Year of Reading 2026, OUP will collaborate with the National Literacy Trust on school events across the UK. Author-led sessions will encourage children to explore different forms of reading and reflect on the words they read, hear, speak, and learn about.
Andrea Quincey, Director of Early Years and Primary Publishing at Oxford University Press, stated: “A key theme from our Oxford Children’s Word of the Year research is the high level of awareness children have about current events. This year reflects that awareness, whether it’s a call for peace amid ongoing conflicts or the acknowledgement of AI’s impact on daily life.
It’s perhaps unsurprising that ‘six-seven’ has been overwhelmingly chosen as their slang word of the year. A word that fosters laughter, joy, and friendships. We realize the importance of allowing children agency over their language away from adult comprehension and enabling them to share words that adults might not understand.
For these reasons, we urge schools to join our Oxford Children’s Word of the Year research for 2026. We are eager to hear from more children and learn about colloquial terms and regional voices. This year’s research underscores the importance of continuing to explore children’s language to support their vocabulary growth, which plays a crucial role in their self-expression.”
Jonathan Douglas CBE, Chief Executive of the National Literacy Trust, commented: “Language is a powerful force in shaping our society, culture, and identity. Understanding how children and youth derive meaning from the words they encounter, take ownership of them, and explore their meanings demonstrates the transformative power of language in helping us understand our world and our place in it.
The National Year of Reading will provide opportunities for more children and young people to engage with language in fun, relevant ways that foster connection with others.
Throughout the year, we will collaborate with Oxford University Press and several renowned authors to bring the magic of reading and words to life for children and young people across the UK.”
For over a decade, experts and academic researchers at OUP have been tracking Children’s Word of the Year, analyzing the evolution of children’s language and its reflection of their emotions and experiences. In light of the latest findings, the Children’s Language department at OUP has released the Oxford Children’s Word of the Year 2025 report, published on January 21, 2026.
