Weird Gen Z slang term is word of the year, says Oxford
A popular Gen Z slang term, made popular by Spider-Man actor Tom Holland, has been named as the 2023 Oxford word of the year.
A popular Gen Z internet slang term has been crowned word of the year by Oxford University Press.
Beating out “Swiftie” and “situationship” for the top spot, the term “rizz” was announced as this year’s winner on Monday.
According to Oxford University Press, rizz is believed to be the shortened form of the word “charisma” and is used to describe someone’s ability to attract another person through style or charm.
The word can also be used as a verb, as in to “rizz up”, meaning to attract or chat up another person.
“It speaks to how younger generations create spaces – online or in person – where they own and define the language they use,” the publisher said.
Rizz was one of eight words that made a shortlist, which included words “beige flag”, “parasocial”, “heat dome”, “prompt” and “de-influencing”, following a public vote.
A team of language experts later made the final decision.
The word is heavily used online, with the hashtag ‘#rizz' wracking up billions of views on TikTok.
The word was made popular earlier this year when Spider-Man actor Tom Holland said he had “no rizz whatsoever” during a Buzzfeed interview.
“I have limited rizz. My bother Paddy has ultimate rizz.”
“I need you to fall in love with me, really, for it to work so long game, probably making a movie with each other” he added, joking about his relationship with co-star star Zendaya.
It comes after Oxford previously named “goblin mode” as the 2022 word of the year.
Another slang term, goblin mode describes a type of behaviour which is “unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy”.
Casper Grathwohl, president at Oxford Languages, said: “Given that last year ‘goblin mode’ resonated with so many of us following the pandemic, it’s interesting to see a contrasting word like rizz come to the forefront, perhaps speaking to a prevailing mood of 2023 where more of us are opening ourselves up after a challenging few years and finding confidence in who we are.”
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