How the slang term 'rizz' became an internet obsession that stumped boomers (and even zoomers) (2024)

  • The word 'rizz' originated with streamers Kai Cenat, Silky, and Duke Dennis.
  • In 2022, the word went viral on TikTok, with many confused about its definition.
  • The term has spawned countless explainer articles and an endless sea of memes.

Unspoken rizz. W rizz. The rizzler. Rizzard of Oz. Rizz God. Walt Rizney. Theodore Rizzevelt.

These are all wordplays on a new slang that first began as a TikTok in-joke before spiraling into an internet-wide fixation. If you're chronically online or under the age of 25, you might know what "rizz" means. But it's a term so niche and siloed in certain streaming circles that even some zoomers are confused why it's suddenly everywhere.

"Rizz" videos on TikTok have been viewed millions of times each.

In short, the word is a stand-in for "charisma" (or cha-rizz-ma — get it?). According to the digital culture database Know Your Meme, it was first popularized by Twitch streamers Kai Cenat, Silky, and Duke Dennis in 2021. The word is most frequently used in romantic situations to describe someone with swagger, or who can effortlessly charm a potential partner. People have also invented an antonym of the phrase, negative rizz (or "L rizz"), to refer to someone so clumsy or awkward that they push people away.

What rizz originally meant, and how it's been remixed on the internet

Cenat broke down the term on the "No Jumper" podcast last June, explaining that it began as a word he used in private with a close circle of friends. When he first started using it in Twitch streams, it instantly caught on, even though some of his fans thought it was weird.

The phrase became inescapable halfway through 2022 after users started spamming it in TikTok videos and in comment sections. Search interest for the term reach an all-time high in November and December, according to Google Trends. It's now ubiquitous across these platforms. As of January 2023, the tag "rizz" has gained over 6 billion views on TikTok, and derivative tags like "wrizz" and "rizzler" also have hundreds of millions of clicks.

Some of the most popular clips are jokes, like this video of a guy wagging his finger to summon an entire cross country team towards him. Another video shows a character from the cartoon series "Total Drama" enamoring, or "rizzing up," a couple of sharks by taking off his shirt so they don't devour him.

Part of the appeal seems to be the elasticity of the word and all the ways it can be reimagined to extend the joke. The word is so transformative and adaptable that it's become a fun pun for real and fictional people — Rizzy Neutron, Kamala Harrizz, Rizz Khalifa, just to name a few. Users have even made "rizz dictionaries" with exhaustive lists of some of the best and worst ones.

How the slang has changed and continues to be transformed

Part of its popularity is because it was initially baffling to internet users who saw it everywhere but didn't know what it meant. There have been tweets with thousands of likes each simply asking people to define it. There was so much mystery surrounding the word that it prompted multiple publications to write in-depth "What is rizz?" explainers (including this one).

However, like all things that travel across social media, the meaning of "rizz" has changed and been diluted.

Nowadays, people comment "rizz" on anything they might find suave, like the way people com"real" or relatable. Creators have also sometimes used it in tandem with specific facial expressions, like the "sigma" look or any kind of manner where the person is trying to look mesmerizing and cool.

The meaning has changed so much that Cenat has reportedly stopped using the word himself. In the podcast interview, Cenat said he believed TikTok "butchered" and "killed" the real meaning of the phrase.

While Google Trends data still shows swaths of people searching and using the term, the official death of "rizz" may come when major corporations appropriate it. We're already seeing some of that happen.

Insider has reached out to Cenat for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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How the slang term 'rizz' became an internet obsession that stumped boomers (and even zoomers) (2024)

FAQs

What is a rizz in Zoomer slang? ›

Rizz, for instance, is Gen Z slang for a quality several previous generations have staked their own claim on: Swag being its immediate predecessor, and mojo sliding in much earlier. Sexual charisma is just something humans never stop thinking about and reacting to, so new words keep bubbling up to describe it.

What is a rizz in boomers? ›

Rizz (/ˈrɪz/) is an internet slang word defined as "style, charm, or attractiveness; the ability to attract a romantic or sexual partner"; it originated as an abbreviation of the word charisma.

What is the rizz trend? ›

Rizz is short for “charisma,” and it simply means an ability to charm and woo a person. It's pronounced, well, rizz, just like it's spelled. The term found its way into teen slang through TikTok and other social media. Rizz isn't being hot — though that can be part of it.

Why is everyone using rizz? ›

Twitch streamer Kai Cenat is credited with popularising the term rizz. In an interview on No Jumper, Cenat explained: “Rizz is when you're talking to a girl and, at first, s*** is not going your way. It's looking bad for you, until you spit game and you're rizzing them up to where s*** starts to go your way.

Why do kids say rizz? ›

According to the Oxford University Press, rizz is “a colloquial word, defined as style, charm, or attractiveness.” But it has other meanings, too, depending on the context in which it's used. Some common rizz definitions include: Possessing charisma, charm, and personality. Being able to attract others romantically.

What is an example of a rizz? ›

What does Rizz mean? “Rizz” is derived from “charisma” — or someone who has “game” when it comes to romantic pursuits. For example, someone would say that “Taylor has rizz” if they're very charming.

Who started the rizz meme? ›

According to the digital culture database Know Your Meme, it was first popularized by Twitch streamers Kai Cenat, Silky, and Duke Dennis in 2021. The word is most frequently used in romantic situations to describe someone with swagger, or who can effortlessly charm a potential partner.

Is rizz a gen alpha word? ›

Rizz can be a verb or an adjective, and in both cases it's used to describe a kind of charisma. In fact, it's believed to have started off as an abbreviation of the word charisma and now all the cool Gen Alpha kids use it to describe anyone who's either turning on the charm or just inherently alluring.

What does zero rizz mean? ›

To have rizz means that you are charming, a flirt and have smooth moves when it comes to romancing someone. You can equate someone with rizz as someone who's got game. Example: “This man has zero rizz. He gets no girls.”

What is the Gen Z word for OK? ›

Bet – In agreement with something, or used for okay or affirmative.

What does rizzing up a girl mean? ›

to attract someone's attention and make them like you in a romantic or sexual way, or to try to do this by behaving in a particular way: They were surprised to see someone like her rizzing up a star footballer. In his latest role, the actor rizzed up not only the leading lady but also the countless fans watching.

What does "rizzy" mean in slang? ›

What does 'rizz' mean? "Rizz" is a slang term often used to describe someone's ability to flirt and be charming, especially for their verbal communication while pursuing a romantic interest. The term can be used as a noun or verb, depending on the sentence.

When was the word "rizz" added to the dictionary? ›

'” It is believed to stem from the word "charisma." OUP's decision comes after a year of rizz-related memes helped make it one of the most buzzy slang terms, particularly among Gen Zers. Last week, Merriam-Webster announced "rizz" as one of its 2023 words of the year after adding it to the dictionary in September.

Who is the rizz god? ›

The trends move fast on TikTok, so if you're wondering what on earth a “rizz god” is, you're not alone! “Rizz” refers to how skilled you are at luring in the honeys, and if you're a rizz god (also sometimes called a “rizz lord”), you're absolutely swimmin' in rizz.

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