Have you got rizz?
Is this Oxford's most Gen Z word of the year ever? 'Rizz' (which is internet slang for romantic appeal) is chosen by lexicographers - seeing off rivals to the top spot including 'de-influencing', 'beige flag' and 'Swiftie'
Language dons have chosen 'rizz' as their Oxford 2023 word of the year - seeing off rivals 'Swiftie' and 'de-influencing' to the top spot.
The term, internet slang for 'romantic appeal' or charm, was crowned after a Tom Holland interview fuelled a boom in its use among younger people in Generation Z - defined as those born between the mid to late-1990s and early 2010s.
It beat seven other contenders to become the word of 2023, in a list narrowed down by a public vote before Oxford lexicographers decided the winner.
Recorded uses of the word peaked in June when Spider-Man star Holland was asked about his 'rizz' in a widely shared interview.
The actor said: 'I have no rizz whatsoever. I have limited rizz. My brother Paddy has ultimate rizz' before then explaining he won over his girlfriend Zendaya by playing the 'long game'.
The word is used massively online, with billions of views of the hashtag 'rizz' on TikTok.
According to the Oxford University Press, 'rizz' is defined as style, charm, or attractiveness; the ability to attract a romantic or sexual partner.
Linguistic experts believe it comes from a shortened version of the word charisma.
It can also be used as a verb, in sayings such as 'to rizz up', which means to attract, seduce, or chat someone up.
It's essentially a newer version of 'game', defined as skill, prowess, and the ability to attract others sexually by using one's charm.
Experts from Oxford University Press said the shortlist of eight words and phrases this year were chosen to most reflect the mood, ethos or preoccupations of 2023.
The other seven words in the shortlist, defined by Oxford language dons, are:
Swiftie: An enthusiastic fan of the singer Taylor Swift
De-influencing: The practice of discouraging people from buying particular products, or of encouraging people to reduce their consumption of material goods, esp. via social media.
Beige flag: A character trait that indicates that a partner or potential partner is boring or lacks originality; (also) a trait or habit, esp. of a partner or potential partner, viewed as extremely characteristic, but not distinctly good or bad.
Heat dome: A persistent high-pressure weather system over a particular geographic area, which traps a mass of hot air below it.
Prompt: An instruction given to an artificial intelligence program, algorithm, etc., which determines or influences the content it generates.
Parasocial: Designating a relationship characterised by the one-sided, unreciprocated sense of intimacy felt by a viewer, fan, or follower for a well-known or prominent figure (typically a media celebrity), in which the follower or fan comes to feel (falsely) that they know the celebrity as a friend.
Situationship: A romantic or sexual relationship that is not considered to be formal or established.
Although rizz's mainstream popularity is thought to have ballooned after Holland used the term, the word is widely credited with having been introduced by YouTuber and Twitch streamer Kai Cenat, who uses it with his friends.
Last year, the slang term 'goblin mode', which is defined as a type of behaviour which is unapologetically self-indulgent or lazy, was chosen as Oxford's 2022 word of the year.
In 2021 the Oxford word of the year was 'vax' and Merriam-Webster´s was 'vaccine' - a reflection of the ongoing Covid pandemic at the time.
Comments
Language dons have chosen “rizz”, which means to attract, to seduce or style, charm, attractiveness and charisma, as the word of the year in relation to 2023. Perhaps, would be better to say “the ability to attract a romantic o sexual partner”, as the article said. Then, the result of this meaning takes us to the other word in the list of word of the year, that is, the word situationship, which means, as Experts (your friends) from Oxford University Press: “A romantic or sexual relationship that is not considered to be formal or established”.
This is the crux, the relationships, al least in Spain, have changed deeply. Many youngsters have a romantic o sexual meeting, sometimes, without formality and engagement. Many people, especially divorce or separates, agree to live in their own home, individually, and they meet every weekend, if they want it, in any place, which can be their own home. It is a romantic and sexual meeting without formality and engagement.
So, from these behaviours come out these words, as rizz or situationship which reflects life itself.
See you.
I don't have a problem with languages evolving and new words entering dictionaries though I do think they are too hasty to include silly Generation Z expressions that will disappear as quickly as they came along. I think we should make an effort to stop words from going out of use simply because they are not cool. Hi, hiya and hey are awful; I much prefer a cheery Hello. You won't catch me saying See ya later (unless it really is the case); a friendly Cheerio is so much more pleasant to the ear.
Language dons have chosen “rizz”, which means the ability to attract, to seduce or style, charm, attractiveness and charisma, as the word of the year in relation to 2023. Perhaps it would be better to say “the ability to attract a romantic o sexual partner”, as the article said. The result of this meaning then takes us to the other word in the list of word of the year, that is, the word situationship, which means, as experts (your friends) from Oxford University Press define as “A romantic or sexual relationship that is not considered to be formal or established”.
This is the crux, relationships, al least in Spain, have changed deeply. Many youngsters have a romantic or sexual meeting, sometimes, without formality and engagement. Many people, especially those who are divorced or separated, agree to live in their own home, individually, and they meet every weekend, if they want, anywhere, which can be their own home. It is a romantic and sexual meeting without formality and engagement.
So, from these behaviours come out these words, like rizz or situationship which reflects life itself.
I am sure there is sense in what you are saying - somewhere. :-)