19 December 2025

Ellie Makes a “6-7” Joke in the Last of Us Part 2, and No I’m Not Kidding

By newsgame

The Last of Us Part 2 is known as a brutal and emotionally intense story, but looking back on some of Ellie’s more light-hearted dialogue, I was shocked to find that she seemingly makes a “6-7” joke in a flashback scene. With “6-7” being one of the biggest memes of the year, I definitely wasn’t expecting to hear something in line with the joke in The Last of Us Part 2, but here we are.

For those not aware, “6-7” has been one of the most popular Gen Alpha memes of 2025. If you’re looking for a solid definition of the slang term, you’re unfortunately going to be disappointed. Essentially, “6-7” doesn’t have a single concrete meaning, but it’s basically used as an inside joke. If the numbers “6” and “7” show up next to each other in any scenario, it’s not abnormal to hear a group of nearby teenagers go wild. If you’re in the know, then you get it, and if you’re not, then it’s more confusing than anything. The Last of Us Part 2‘s Ellie may be far more serious in the sequel, but in her flashbacks, she’s still a fairly happy kid who loves to crack jokes, one of which sounds an awful lot like a nod to “6-7.” Of course, since The Last of Us Part 2 came out five years ago, it’s obviously not a direct reference to the meme, but the coincidence is wild, especially in the context of the scene.

“6-7” may ultimately originate from the Skrilla song “Doot Doot (6 7).”

The Last of Us Part 2 Has Its Very Own “6-7” Joke

Over the years, there have been instances where The Simpsons has seemingly predicted future events, which continues to fuel internet conspiracy theories. However, The Last of Us Part 2 feels like the least likely piece of media to have a moment that feels like a prediction of future meme culture. The “6-7” reference happens during the flashback scene where Ellie and Joel are exploring the abandoned science museum. Start at the 4-minute mark in the video to see it for yourself.

When Ellie approaches a statue of the moon, she banters with Joel about how many times humans have traveled to it.

Ellie: “You know how many times we’ve been to the moon?”

Joel: “Uh, twice?”

Ellie: “Six times.”

Joel: “Are you sure?”

Ellie: “Yeah, I’m sure. I’m gonna make it seven.”

It’s one of the game’s most meaningful segments, but now, looking back, there’s an extra touch that feels really in character for Ellie because she would have probably loved the “6-7” meme. In the flashback, Ellie is the exact age of someone who’s embroiled in the “6-7” hype, so it’s pretty funny to imagine that even in a fictional, post-apocalyptic world, the “6-7” meme is still thriving somehow. Even when Ellie says, “I’m gonna make it seven,” she shifts into an almost mischievous tone that makes it sound like she’s fully aware that she’s telling a joke. Ellie’s jokes in The Last of Us games are an essential piece of her character because it shows how she sometimes uses humor to cope with her less-than-ideal living arrangement, but it’s wild to think that “6-7” could now unintentionally be part of that coping mechanism.

Ellie’s “6-7” Joke May Not Have Been Planned, But it’s a Great Coincidence

Unless Naughty Dog has some kind of secret access to time travel technology that no one knows about, the studio and director Neil Druckmann had no way to know that Ellie’s dialogue could eventually become a meme reference. Honestly, that makes it even funnier. It’s such an absurd inside joke that a lot had to fall into place just right for it to seem like Ellie is using Gen Alpha slang.

To some, “6-7” is just another form of brain rot, but others see it as a term that connects a whole generation. It’s silly, but that’s the point. With Ellie’s age being in line with the generation that founded the term, it turns this part of The Last of Us Part 2‘s museum level into a strange meta moment.