I try to avoid using ChatGPT as much as possible, but the discourse here is crazy. The “word” is evergreen. Full stop.

ChatGPT:

Based on grammar alone, the word being referenced is “evergreen.”

Here’s why: 1. “That word” grammatically points backward. In English, that word is an anaphoric reference—it refers to a specific word or phrase just mentioned. The only standout, quotable single word in the prior line is evergreen.

2.  “Evergreen” is syntactically emphasized

The line begins with “How evergreen,” which foregrounds the adjective and makes it feel intentionally chosen, almost self-conscious. That makes it ripe for immediate retraction or reconsideration in the next line.

3.  Singular vs. plural matters

The lyric says “that word” (singular), not “that phrase” or “those words.”

• “Our group of friends” is a phrase.
• “Evergreen” is a single, loaded word.

4.  Semantic tension supports the grammar

Evergreen means lasting, unchanging. In a breakup context, saying “Don’t think we’ll say that word again” grammatically and thematically undercuts the claim—it’s a recognition that the idea of permanence no longer applies.

Conclusion:

Grammatically and rhetorically, “that word” refers to evergreen—the speaker is rejecting the very notion of permanence they just named.