Gen Z Slang ‘Rizz’ Became Word of the Year Thanks to Tom Holland and Kai Cenat

Oxford University Press has officially selected its Word of the Year...with a little help from Tom Holland and Kai Cenat.

After 32,000 people weighed in, including a team of language experts, the academic press announced on Monday that the Gen Z term "rizz" won top honor. It beat out finalists "Swiftie" and "situationship," along with shortlisted words "beige flag" and "parasocial."

Here's everything you need to know about Oxford's Word of the Year, and what Holland and Cenat have to do with it.

What does "rizz" mean?

According to Oxford, "rizz" is defined by "someone’s ability to attract another person through style, charm, or attractiveness, this term is from the middle part of the word 'charisma.'"

How did Tom Holland use "rizz"?

The academic press credited Tom Holland for popularizing the word back in June. “I have no rizz whatsoever," Holland told Buzzfeed in an interview. "I have limited rizz.”

The actor added that he charmed his way into dating girlfriend Zendaya by playing the "Along game."

After Holland said "rizz," Oxford reported that use of the word "increased dramatically."

How is Kai Cenat and "rizz" connected?

Twitch star Kai Cenat can take credit for introducing the word into the lexicon, after he published a video in 2022 about how to get "rizz."

While speaking to Complex in July, Cenat noted that his friend group collectively made up the word. "It's just from like, us being at home, like just talking," he explained. "One person said it, and then another person said it, and then I said it on my Twitch."

He added, "And when I would say it on stream and stuff, a lot, it started going crazy, you feel what I'm saying? Then it went crazy internationally, everybody say it now, it's just in people's vocabulary. And that's what it is."