Close
Search
Menu Menu
[gtranslate]

‘Rizz’ named word of the year by Oxford University Press

Credit: Thred
By
London, UK
0 comments
0 comments

Gen Z’s favourite TikTok buzzword ‘rizz’ was crowned word of the year for 2023. Unsure what that means? A brush up on your social media dialect might be in order.

The word ‘rizz’ has been named word of the year by the Oxford University Press.

Based on more than 32,000 votes and final judgement from a team of language experts, the word is defined as ‘style, charm, or attractiveness; the ability to attract a romantic or sexual partner’. It was used incessantly on TikTok this year and is a staple of Gen Z dialect.

‘Rizz’ is understood to be a shortened form of the word ‘charisma’ and can also be used as a verb. The phrase ‘to rizz up’, for example, means to chat up or seduce someone. It’s essentially an updated version of ‘game’.

Oxford University Press’ word choice marks Gen Z’s increasing influence over regular language and discourse, and reinforces social media’s overwhelming presence within our everyday communication. It follows in the footsteps of 2022’s word of the year, which was ‘goblin mode’.

Plus, it’s all good fun. That’s the most important thing, right?


Which words were runner up?

Interestingly, there were several runner up words that almost took the crown. The first of these was ‘prompt’, a term that saw a huge increase in daily use in 2023 thanks to the explosion of generative AI and ChatGPT.

As the Oxford University Press writes, ‘as AI systems have spread […] more people have developed the skills needed to use them effectively and, in some cases, become specialised prompt engineers’.

Our newfound love for the word ‘prompt’ is representative of our increasingly intertwined relationship with machines and procedurally generated information.

Next up was ‘situationship’, a term you’ve no doubt seen all over the internet over the past twelve months. A combination of both ‘situation’ and ‘relationship’, Oxford University Press defines the term as describing a ‘romantic or sexual relationship that is not considered to be formal or established’.

Much like rizz, this word dominated TikTok and Instagram feeds throughout 2023, and has become a mainstay for Gen Zers who find themselves confused romantically.

‘Swiftie’ also made the cut this year. A few others from the shortlist include ‘beige flag’, ‘de-influencing’, ‘heat dome’, and ‘parasocial’. Many of these terms reference romance, social media trends, or describe human connections in some way, once again reflecting Gen Z’s impact over our everyday dialect.


What does this mean for our language moving forward?  

Of course, these type of nominations and labels are mostly for good fun, and probably shouldn’t be taken too seriously.

Still, they are a good indication as to where pop culture was most prevalently felt within our language and choice of words on any given year. Just a quick glance back at final picks from a decade ago brings back memories. Anyone else remember ‘selfie’ from 2013?

Perhaps I’m showing my age.

Nevertheless, ‘rizz’ is strong evidence to suggest that social media and short-form content will continue to dominate our pop culture landscape and language for the immediate future. We’re already living in a world where abbreviation has become the norm – whether that be through emojis, labels, or simple shortening of words – and that’s only likely to increase.

Let’s see what next year brings. Knowing Taylor Swift, she’ll probably appear in the shortlisting a second year running.

Editor In Chief London, UK

I’m Charlie (He/Him), the Editor In Chief at Thred. I studied English at the University of Birmingham and as a music and gaming enthusiast, I’m a nerd for pop culture. You can find me curating playlists, designing article headline images, and sipping cider on a Thursday. Follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn and drop me some ideas/feedback via email.

Popular

Keep up with thred by signing up to our planet-positive newsletter!

More from thred.

Are cigarettes on trend again?
Credit: Pexels
Offbeat

Are cigarettes on trend again?

Amid the resurgence of smoking among celebrities and influencers, a recent study shows that 57 per cent of young people think it’s fashionable, despite the risks being so well-known. Of every trend to make a comeback, smoking was an unlikely contender. It’s 2024, after all, the year that saw efforts to address nicotine addiction take centre stage. In the UK, Labour has banned disposable vapes and

By London, UK
Opinion – AI disrupting Africa’s traditional artistry is a worry
Credit: Thred
Design

Opinion – AI disrupting Africa’s traditional artistry is a worry

Across Africa, a continent rich with diverse artistic heritage, traditional art has long been a vehicle for cultural expression, storytelling, and heritage preservation. From the intricate beadworks to bold masks, traditional African art has both spiritual and social value, transcending mere aesthetics. Artificial Intelligence’s accessibility and ability to create compelling visual content is impacting Africa’s traditional art forms, challenging both the market dynamics and the intrinsic meanings these art forms...

By Nairobi, Kenya
This company is pressing indie music onto vinyl postcards
Credit: Vinylpost
Media

This company is pressing indie music onto vinyl postcards

The first record subscription of its kind, Vinyl Post is bring back the nostalgia of listening to new music releases on vinyl flexi discs.  I'm currently going through a “music lover” era, and I need to find more ways to enjoy music other than the conventional random playlist on Spotify or Apple Music. Thanks to TikTok, I found something that might fulfil that need. It's called: Vinyl Post Record Club. Unlike...

By Benito Juarez, Mexico
Is film tourism now becoming a problem?
Credit: Thred
Media

Is film tourism now becoming a problem?

Movie fans are flocking to locations ill-equipped to handle them.  Film and TV locations have drawn people from around the world for years. From the misty mountains of New Zealand’s ‘Middle Earth’ to Croatia’s mediaeval Old Towns featured in Game of Thrones. But the global pilgrimage of fans has started to feel less like harmless fun and more like a relentless invasion of spaces that were never designed to handle the...

By Brighton, UK
Accessibility