rizz
Romantic charm or the ability to attract someone.
By Cal Hewitt, Gen X · Researched from public sources ·
What it actually means
Rizz means charm, especially flirting ability. Someone can have rizz, no rizz, or rizz someone up. It is sometimes used sincerely and often used as a joke.
See the quick definition in the rizz dictionary entry.
Where it came from
Rizz was popularized by streamer Kai Cenat and his friend group around 2021, then spread through TikTok. It is often described as coming from charisma, though Cenat has questioned that derivation.
Commonly credited to Kai Cenat is widely credited with popularizing it; sole coinage remains uncertain (2021), commonly reported.
Where it's popular
Twitch, TikTok, gaming-adjacent youth culture, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha.
It quickly crossed into mainstream English.
How it caught on
- 2021Cenat's community used rizz online.
- 2022-2023TikTok and memes made it widely recognizable.
- 2023Oxford University Press chose rizz as Word of the Year.
How to use it
“He has no rizz, but he is funny.”
Talking about flirting charm.
“She rizzed him up at the party.”
Verb use for charming someone.
Common mix-ups
Rizz is not a guaranteed technique for dating and does not only mean physical attractiveness.
Do you actually know it?
Rizz check
0/31. Rizz means:
2. Who popularized rizz?
3. Rizz up means:
Related slang
Questions people ask
What does rizz mean?
Romantic charm or appeal.
Who invented rizz?
Kai Cenat is widely credited with popularizing it, though exact coinage is not fully settled.
What does rizz up mean?
To charm or flirt with someone.
Rizz went from streamer slang to Oxford's 2023 Word of the Year in roughly two years.
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