TikTok drives popularity of Oxford Dictionary’s word of the year – you’ve either got it, or you don’t

Swiftie, prompt and situationship have been short-listed as the top words of 2023 with TikTok helping secure one top spot.

Stories of linguistic evolution and expansion that used to take years can now take weeks or months, says Oxford Languages president Casper Grathwohl. Picture: iStock / Getty Images

It’s got to be said that I’ve never been one of the cool kids. I tried hard there for a bit back in the 1990s but just couldn’t ever quite pull it off.

And I’ve got to admit, it is kind of nice to now be of an age where it really doesn’t matter, that I am more than happy to let others “be someone” and I’ll just dag along.

If I don’t get what’s so hilarious about the TikTok funnyman and his pesky pranks, or understand half the things my kids say to each in their online chats, so be it.

Let them roll their eyes when I say “facts” or “true story” in a cringe-worthy way and I’ll let it slide when my youngest teenager’s response to a serious, heartfelt text I’ve sent him, aimed to inspire belief in himself and his ability, is, “Cheers lil bro”.

Still, I had to smile recently when I was listening to a 20-something producer on a commercial radio station try to educate her middle-aged male presenters what’s OK to say – and what’s not – in 2023.

Apparently “amazeballs” is out and “rizz”, short, it seems, for charisma, and “situationship”, the early stages of a new relationship, are in.

I might be among the few people on the planet who’d never heard of either.

My 16-year-old, when asked if he knew what “rizz” meant, cheekily responded, “Basically, Mum, the word was named after me … it means charisma – you’ve got it, or you haven’t.”

And “situationship”? “Yeah, it’s a relationship that is not a relationship, you know a ‘situationship’?” Well actually, no.

According to the cool kids, “amazeballs” is out and “rizz”, short for charisma, “situationship”, the early stages of a new relationship, are in. Picture: Suzanne Cordeiro/ AFP

During the week it was reported “rizz” had been named Oxford Dictionary’s word of the year.

“We created a shortlist of eight words, all chosen to reflect the mood, ethos, or preoccupations of the past year, and put them to the public to vote for their favourites … narrowed down to four finalists: rizz, Swiftie, prompt and situationship,” Oxford University Press announced in a release.

“‘Rizz’ is a colloquial noun defined as ‘style, charm, or attractiveness; the ability to attract a romantic or sexual partner’ … a shortened form of the word ‘charisma’.”

The word “rizz” reportedly has more than 36 billion views on TikTok and skyrocketed to popularity after Spider-Man star Tom Holland was asked on US social news organisation BuzzFeed what the secret to his “rizz” was: “I have no rizz whatsoever. I have limited rizz.”

Head spinning? Don’t feel too bad.

Rizz reportedly skyrocketed to popularity when Spider-Man star Tom Holland was asked the secret to his “rizz”. Picture: supplied

Oxford Languages president Casper Grathwohl says: “The spike in usage data for ‘rizz’ goes to prove that words and phrases that evolve from internet culture are increasingly becoming part of day-to-day vernacular and will continue to shape language trends in the future.

“This is a story as old as language itself, but stories of linguistic evolution and expansion that used to take years can now take weeks or months.”

To help you keep on track with the kids and grandkids this Christmas, here are what some of the short-listed words – and a few others suggested by teenagers – mean.

Oxford words of the year for 2023

Swiftie: An enthusiastic fan of the singer Taylor Swift.

Beige flag: A character trait that indicates that a partner or potential partner is boring or lacks originality.

It’s giving: Used in conversation to describe the look, feeling or vibe something is giving you with a positive ironic connotation. So, “it’s giving rock star”. Can also be a stand-alone compliment, “it’s giving”.

Iykyk: Initialism for “If you know you know”.

Gatekeep: When someone doesn’t want to share something, such as where they bought a piece of clothing or homework answers, they might be told, “You’re gatekeeping”.

Touch grass: A response to someone going off the deep end or having a tantrum, meaning calm down: “Go and touch grass”.

Bad take: A cringe-worthy opinion or comment. Also, “bad call”.

Cooking: When you are at the top of your game: “I was cooking today”. “Cooked” can also be used instead of saying something is crazy, insane or ridiculous.

Mandem: Group of mates, apparently interchangeable with “Broski”.

Cap: Telling lies.

Blud: Can be used when addressing a friend in place of mate, brother or “bro”.

NPC: A non-player character, in video game vernacular, is now someone, regardless of their views, who doesn’t think for themselves.

Salty: When you are upset over something little.

Make sense?

To be honest, it really doesn’t matter because at the end of the day there’s nothing wrong with being outside of the cool crowd.

If you’ve rizz or not.