Official 'word of the year' for 2023 is announced - but not everyone's happy
Oxford University Press has named their 2023 'Word of the Year' - but some members of the older generations in the UK aren't happy.
Every year, a word is picked to reflect the 12 months that have come before and "the ethos, mood, or preoccupations of that particular year". Alongside that it must also have "lasting potential as a word of cultural significance". The list is narrowed down through a public vote before Oxford University Press, who publish the Oxford English Dictionary, lexicographers make the final decision.
This year the winner, selected from a shortlist of eight words, is quite popular amongst the UK’s younger generation - but has left many others wondering if they’re getting on a bit.
Rizz - which means a romantic or sexual appeal or charm - has won out this year. Beating out the likes of situationship, Swiftie and beige flag, it was deemed the right word to reflect the past year. The Oxford Dictionary definition of rizz is: "style, charm or attractiveness; the ability to attract a romantic or sexual partner."
It is thought to originate from the middle of the word charisma. However, not everyone was best pleased and some of the country’s older generations took to social media to complain that they had never even heard of the word rizz.
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Someone commented: "Hadn’t heard it till now. Wrong generation." Another added: "You know you're old when you not only don't know the meaning of the 'word of the year', you've never even heard of the word itself."
Others saw the funny side of not knowing the word rizz, as one woman tweeted: "I'm obviously not quite as down with the kids as I thought I was, as I’ve never heard this before today." Another dad took to social media and said: "First 'word of the year' that my 6yo knew about before me. 6! I must be getting old."
Whilst some generations may be less familiar with the term, on TikTok, the hashtag rizz has billions of views. It can also be used as a verb, where one can 'rizz up' someone which means to attract and seduce them. YouTuber and Twitch streamer Kai Cenat is credited with popularising the term which he used with his friend.
Then, famous actor Tom Holland is thought to have brought the word into the mainstream when he was asked during an interview what the secret to his rizz is. Holland, who is dating Zendaya, said: “I have no rizz whatsoever. I have limited rizz.”
Last year’s word of the year was goblin mode, meaning "unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy" behaviour.
Casper Grathwohl, president at Oxford Languages, said "it's interesting to see a contrasting word like rizz come to the forefront". He continued that rizz might speak to "a prevailing mood of 2023, where more of us are opening ourselves up after a challenging few years and finding confidence in who we are".
He also highlighted how words and phrases bleeding from the internet and social media into the rest of the world was becoming “increasingly” common.
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