What Does “The Rizz” Mean On TikTok? The Viral Slang Term, Explained

It seems like every year, a new TikTok slang term takes the world by storm. In 2021, the turn of phrase “cheugy” was inescapable. In 2022 it was all about goblin mode. This year, the word on everyone’s lips was “rizz.” At least, that’s what the Oxford English Dictionary says, because the historical dictionary just named the slang term as Oxford’s Word Of The Year for 2023. But if you’re still unsure of the word’s meaning and its origin even after the world’s second-oldest publisher awarded the slang word this major honor, here’s a rundown on everything you need to know about TikTok’s – and the Oxford English Dictionary’s – favorite word of 2023.

What Is “Rizz”?

It’s hard out here for people in the dating scene. You’ve spent what feels like hours strategizing what video prompt to use on your Hinge profile. Maybe you’re still working on your go-to Bumble opener. Then, when you actually get to the first date portion of the process, you might automatically feel like it’s not a good fit. Or, in some cases, you might feel an immediate connection, that “there’s just something about them” kind of feeling. That, my friends, is what TikTok is now referring to as “the rizz.”

Where It All Began

Sometime starting in October 2022 the term “rizz” started making its rounds on Tiktok and come November 2022 it seems to have officially joined the app’s lexicon. Despite its latest popularity, the term has been around since May 2021, when two online streamers started using it to talk about their dating life.

It can be compared to “having game” or one’s ability to attract a potential partner. In chronically online terms, it’s basically the 2022 version of 2018’s “BDE.” Although it has not been confirmed, some people think “rizz” might be short for “charisma” which would make sense given its definition.

Use “Rizz” In A Sentence

As for how people are using “rizz” on the app, it can come in the form of videos or as a recurring theme in comments sections. The hashtag #rizz has 3.8 billion views on TikTok and videos under the tag feature users showing off how smoothly they try to pick up potential partners on the street or examples from popular culture of characters showing off their own rizz.

User @fazrambles shared that “rizz” can potentially be measured based on someone’s attractiveness and their success when using pick-up lines, although like most dating terms and slang these days, everything is truly up for interpretation.

Do You Have Rizz?

What makes someone have the “ultimate rizz” or “W rizz” is all in the eye of the beholder. The only way to know if someone has rizz is for the person they’re throwing their rizz at to accept it. Like BDE, maybe rizz is something you don’t understand until you see it for yourself. And of course, one should never use rizz as an excuse for trying to lock down a potential partner that clearly isn’t interested.

For some, their rizz is simply showing off their doe vs. siren eyes. For others, it’s a simple look up and down at the person they’re trying to attract.

Ultimately, everyone has their own special sort of rizz. Maybe it’s a pick-up line (are you from Tennessee?) or the fact that they go to therapy (that’s hot). The rizz is inside all of us in some way, shape, or form. So, what’s your rizz?

Additional reporting by Jillian Giandurco