Every year Oxford University chooses and declares a ‘Word of the Year,’ and it is typically something that reflects the linguistic and cultural trends of the past twelve months. This year was no different. Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2012, are ruling the internet and it is their slang and terminologies that dominated 2023.
Oxford University has declared ‘Rizz’ as the word of the year. This Gen Z slang was used extensively on social media and became a common catchphrase for the younger generation.
Oxford University Press, the publishers of the English dictionary, have deemed ‘Rizz’ as the Word Of The Year 2023. pic.twitter.com/W34e8nEc0G
— Pop Base (@PopBase) December 4, 2023
So, do you know what ‘rizz’ means? Allow us to help you understand.
Rizz Meaning
Oxford Dictionary defines ‘rizz’ as, “pertaining to someone’s ability to attract another person through style, charm, or attractiveness.”
The word was derived from another word ‘charisma.’ If you look at the transcription of the word as per the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet), it would be /kəˈrizmə/. Now, notice that the word is divided into four phonetic sounds. The third phonetic sound /ˈrɪz/ is where 2023’s Word of the Year is derived from.
In simple terms, the meaning of 'rizz' is how skilled someone is in seducing or charming others. It refers to the overall charisma of a person and how easily they are able to attract others.
Here are two examples of how to use Rizz in a sentence.
“I think I unintentionally rizzed someone at the bar without even trying.”
“Sloane has undeniable rizz. You need to take some pointers from her.”
Word of the Year 2023
The linguistic and phonetic trend in 2023 was purely dominated by Gen Z. ‘Rizz’ won Oxford’s Word of the Year 2023 after beating many strong contenders. Some of the other words that were up for consideration were:
- Swiftie- This word is used to refer to the fans of Taylor Swift, the pop star who dominated the entirety of 2023.
- Beige Flag- You must have heard of the words ‘red flag’ and ‘green flag’. ‘Beige flag’ emerged from them, and refers to a peculiar trait of a person that is not a red flag, but is not a green flag either. It lies somewhere in between.
- De-influencing: De-influencing is just the opposite of influencing. It means to avoid or reject the influence of others, particularly in the context of social media.
- Situationship: Derived from the word relationship, it refers to a romantic/sexual relationship that is not established and does not have any commitments.
There were a total of 8 words contending for Oxford’s Word of the Year, including prompt, heat dome, and parasocial. On the other hand, Merriam-Webster has declared 'Authentic' as its Word of the Year 2023. In 2022, 'Globlin Mode' won the word of the year by Oxford.
The Oxford Word of the Year is “a word or expression reflecting the ethos, mood, or preoccupations of the past twelve months, one that has potential as a term of lasting cultural significance.”
Related | Goblin Mode: Oxford’s Word Of The Year 2022. What Does It Mean? Find Out Its Origin And Context
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