GNAI Visual Synopsis: Picture a diverse group of people engaging in animated conversation at a social mixer, some highlighting their style and personal charm, visibly radiating confidence and attracting attention as they mingle.
One-Sentence Summary
The Oxford University Press has selected “rizz,” a slang term for personal charm, as its word of the year for 2023, highlighting its cultural resonance. Read The Full Article
Key Points
- 1. “Rizz,” a slang term evolving from “charisma” and signifying the ability to attract others with one’s style and appeal, clinched the Oxford word of the year for 2023.
- 2. The public cast over 32,000 votes, contributing to the selection of “rizz” among eight shortlisted words, which included terms like “prompt,” “situationship,” and “Swiftie.”.
- 3. The term gained traction following a viral moment with actor Tom Holland and can also function as a verb (“rizz up”) to describe the act of charming someone.
- 4. “Rizz” underscores the identity and linguistic preferences of the year, reflecting not just widespread usage but also embodying the cultural mood and social dialogues of 2023.
- 5. Last year’s chosen word was “goblin mode,” suggesting a trend where Oxford’s word of the year often taps into current societal attitudes and informal language.
Key Insight
The selection of “rizz” as the word of the year highlights a growing trend in linguistic culture where colloquial and internet-born terms gain legitimacy and widespread usage, influencing the English language’s evolution.
Why This Matters
Recognizing “rizz” illustrates the importance of language as a living, dynamic force that adapts to our changing society and interactions. It marks the intersection of social media influence, celebrity culture, and conversational speech in shaping contemporary vocabulary, thereby underlining how our daily communications can captivate and eventually alter formal lexicons.
Notable Quote
“Rizz” soared in popularity earlier this year, after Spider-Man actor Tom Holland was asked by Buzzfeed what the secret to his rizz was. His answer? “I have no rizz whatsoever. I have limited rizz.”
