Rizz Meaning: What Does “Rizz” Mean?

Rizz: The Short Answer

“Rizz” is internet slang for style, charm, or attractiveness — specifically, the ability to attract a romantic or sexual partner. It is a shortened form of “charisma.” If someone says a person “has rizz,” they mean that person is charming and good at flirting. Oxford University Press crowned “rizz” its 2023 Word of the Year.

The Definition of Rizz

The Oxford University Press defines “rizz” as a colloquial noun meaning “style, charm, or attractiveness; the ability to attract a romantic or sexual partner.” Merriam-Webster added the word to its dictionary in September 2023 and named it one of its words of the year for 2023.

The word is widely believed to come from the middle of “charisma” — take “charisma,” drop the “cha-” and the “-ma,” and you are left with “rizz.” This kind of clipping is common in slang: long words get trimmed to their punchiest syllable.

Unlike “charisma,” which usually describes a magnetic personality in general, “rizz” is almost always about romantic or flirtatious appeal. A great public speaker has charisma; a person who can smoothly talk to their crush has rizz.

Where Did Rizz Come From?

“Rizz” bubbled up through streaming and social media culture before exploding into the mainstream. Streamer Kai Cenat is widely credited with popularizing the term among his audience in 2021 and 2022, using it in his streams to describe someone’s flirting ability.

The word went truly mainstream in mid-2023. In June 2023, actor Tom Holland said in a BuzzFeed interview, “I have no rizz whatsoever. I have limited rizz,” explaining that he played the “long game” with his girlfriend, actress Zendaya. The clip went viral, and usage of the word surged — Oxford’s language data showed usage rising roughly fifteenfold in the months that followed.

By the end of 2023, “rizz” had become one of the defining slang terms of Gen Z internet culture, earning the Oxford Word of the Year title ahead of contenders like “Swiftie,” “prompt,” and “situationship.” Merriam-Webster chose “authentic” as its 2023 Word of the Year, but listed “rizz” among its top words.

Rizz as a Verb: “Rizz Up”

“Rizz” also works as a verb, most often in the phrase “rizz up,” which Oxford defines as “to attract, seduce, or chat up (a person).” This is where the word gets practical:

• “He tried to rizz her up at the party.”
• “She rizzed up the barista and got a free coffee.”
• “I have zero rizz up game.”

Other common phrases include “rizz god” or “rizz king” (someone exceptionally charming) and “unspoken rizz” (charm that works without even trying — just presence and confidence). “W rizz” means good flirting game; “L rizz” means the attempt failed.

How to Use Rizz in a Sentence

• “Marcus has serious rizz — everyone at the party was talking to him.”
• “I need to work on my rizz before the first date.”
• “Her rizz is unmatched; she can start a conversation with anyone.”
• “He attempted to rizz up the new student and got rejected in front of everyone.”
• “That outfit gives you instant rizz.”

Notice the tone: “rizz” is playful and informal. It belongs in casual conversation, texting, and social media — not in a job application or academic essay.

Rizz vs. Charisma

It helps to see exactly how the two words differ:

• Charisma is the broader, more formal term. It covers leadership, stage presence, and general magnetism. A politician, a CEO, or a teacher can have charisma.
• Rizz is narrower and informal. It is almost exclusively about romantic or flirtatious charm. Using “rizz” to describe a CEO’s leadership would sound odd — unless you were joking.

In other words, all rizz is charisma, but not all charisma is rizz.

Why Rizz Became Word of the Year

Oxford’s language experts said they chose “rizz” as an example of how language is formed, shaped, and shared within communities before spreading more widely. The word’s journey — from streamer slang to a Tom Holland interview to global meme status — showed how online communities, particularly younger ones, now drive mainstream vocabulary.

The term also captured something about 2023’s culture: dating discourse, “rizz tips” videos, and endless debates about what actually makes someone attractive dominated social media feeds. “Rizz” became shorthand for all of it. Like other internet slang such as clanker or vibe coding, it moved from niche online communities into everyday conversation — and like delulu, it shows how quickly Gen Z slang can get dictionary recognition.

Frequently Asked Questions