Rizz (noun / verb / modern slang)
(Also heard as: Unspoken rizz, Rizz god, Rizzing up, Zero rizz)
Definition:
-
Natural charm, quick wit, and the knack for pulling someone effortlessly.
-
(Verb) To graft, chat someone up, or work your magic on a romantic interest.
Pronunciation: /rɪz/
Where It Comes From: Short for “charisma” (taking the middle syllable, cha-rizz-ma). Streamer Kai Cenat and his Twitch circle started throwing it around their NYC broadcasts around 2021 to clown their mates’ dating game. TikTok picked it up, drove it viral globally, and by late 2023 Oxford University Press officially crowned it Word of the Year after it took over UK schoolyards, university campuses, and group chats.
How People Actually Use It: Heard all over pub smoking areas and group chats whenever dating comes up. You drop it to banter with a mate who managed to bag numbers all night without breaking a sweat (“unspoken rizz”), or to stitch up someone who completely fumbled their opening line with a girl at the bar.
Examples in the Wild:
-
“He walked straight over to the bar and got her number in two minutes—man’s got pure rizz.”
Translation: He effortlessly chatted her up and secured her phone number.
-
“Watch him try and rizz up the cashier while we’re waiting for the food.”
Translation: Look at him attempting to flirt with the girl at the counter.
-
“He panicked and made a joke about the weather; absolute zero rizz.”
Translation: He got nervous, said something dead awkward, and completely blew his chance.
Similar Slang: Game, Chat, Pulling power, Charm, Grafting, Flirting
Contribute To This Page