What does rizz mean?
Quick Answer
"Rizz" is slang for charm or seductiveness, especially the ability to attract a romantic partner. It is generally understood to be a shortening of "charisma". As a verb, to "rizz someone up" means to flirt with or charm them. Oxford University Press named "rizz" its Word of the Year for 2023.
Key Takeaways
- Rizz = charm, game, the ability to attract someone
- Most likely shortened from the middle of "charisma"
- Popularized by streamer Kai Cenat and spread through TikTok
- "Rizz up" means to flirt with or charm someone
- "W rizz" is good rizz; "L rizz" is a failed attempt
- Oxford Word of the Year 2023
Where "Rizz" Comes From
The word is widely credited to the American Twitch streamer and YouTuber Kai Cenat, who used it in videos with his friends from around 2021. From there it spread across TikTok, Twitter (X) and gaming communities. Oxford University Press chose "rizz" as its 2023 Word of the Year and defines it as "style, charm, or attractiveness; the ability to attract a romantic or sexual partner".
How People Use It
- Noun: "He has crazy rizz." (He is very charming.)
- Verb: "She rizzed him up at the party." (She flirted with him successfully.)
- Rizzler: someone with a lot of rizz
- W rizz / L rizz: a winning or losing attempt at charming someone
- Unspoken rizz: attracting someone without saying anything, often with a look or a smile
- No rizz: awkward, no game
Like many slang words, it is often used ironically, for example calling a cat or a cartoon character "the rizzler".
Similar Words Over the Years
Rizz is the latest in a long line of words for charm: "game" in the 1990s and 2000s, "swag" in the late 2000s and 2010s, and "smooth" or "suave" before that. It overlaps with "aura" (an impressive presence), another word that became popular among teens in 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is rizz short for charisma?
That is the most widely accepted explanation, and it is the etymology Oxford gives: "rizz" is taken from the middle of "charisma".
Who made rizz popular?
Streamer Kai Cenat is credited with popularizing it from around 2021, after which it spread on TikTok and other platforms.
What does "rizz up" mean?
To "rizz someone up" means to flirt with them or win them over with charm.
Is rizz a real word?
Yes, it is now in major dictionaries, including the Oxford English Dictionary, and it was Oxford's Word of the Year for 2023.
What is unspoken rizz?
Charm that works without words: catching someone's interest with a look, a smile or just your presence.