To older generations, younger generations often sound like they’re speaking an alien tongue. “Skibidi” could very well be the name of a far-off planet, while “delulu” could be the name of a comet streaking through the sky. (The former is a Generation Alpha nonsense word that comes from internet memes, and the latter is Generation Z’s way of saying “delusional.”) But some terms have transcended the generational divides. Take, for example, “rizz,” which is such a popular slang term that the Oxford University Press named it the 2023 word of the year. If you missed this word’s rise to the top, we’ll explain. It’s a shortened version of a familiar word: “charisma. “Rizz” is pulled from the middle syllable of “charisma,” much like “flu” is part of “influenza.”
Oxford’s honor has seemingly given license for the mainstream to use “rizz,” but it started in the Gen Z lexicon. If a Gen Zer (someone born between 1997 and 2012) claims that someone has rizz, it’s a pretty major compliment, as they’re suggesting that a person is stylish and charming. “Rizz” is often used specifically in the context of attracting romantic partners. Often, having rizz transcends physical appearance, as a person with rizz is said to be more successful at dating people who would normally be deemed “out of their league.”
This catchy word’s popularity soared in 2022, thanks in part to internet streamer Kai Cenat, who used it during Twitch broadcasts. (Twitch is a streaming platform often used for video games.) Usage of “rizz” exploded from there, and soon it was everywhere on TikTok and spreading far beyond high school cafeterias and Gen Z exchanges. What youthful slang will we adopt from Gen Z (or even Gen Alpha) next?
