“He Rizzed Her Up!” What Does the New Slag Word “Rizz” Mean?

While browsing the web, you might have come across the term “rizzed up, and wondered about the “rizzed up” meaning in terms of Generation Z slang. For most parents, this new slang term is mysterious and unknown. Here’s detailed information on this fresh and catchy phrase, which was even voted Word of the Year recently, you’ll often hear in young people’s conversations!

Contents:

• What Does Rizz Mean? Explanation and Examples
• The Etymology of Rizz
• What Does Having Rizz, or No Rizz, Mean?
• Rizz and Gen Z Culture
• What Does Rizz Mean on TikTok?
• FAQs

What Does Rizz Mean? Explanation and Examples

Every era comes with new phrases, and today’s high-tech times often lead to catchy terms first appearing in online communication. A couple of decades ago, many people were surprised by the phrase LOL, which means laughing out loud. Over time, all generations began using it to describe when they found something genuinely funny.

If you look at the Merriam-Webster dictionary, you’ll find that “rizz” is a Gen Z teen slang word and even appeared as a Word of the Year nominee. It refers to someone’s charm and appeal, especially in romantic endeavors. “Rizz” can be both a colloquial noun and a verb, and it usually describes the ability to be successful in romantic engagements.

Here are some examples that will help you understand better:

1. I’m going to use my rizz on that girl to impress her and get her phone number.
2. My brother is the master of rizz—his seduction skills are fantastic.
3. I was at a party last night and rizzed up a few boys hanging out there.
4. The way you were flirting with that girl was admirable—you really rizzed her up!

The Etymology of Rizz

Kai Cenat. Credit: Image via YouTube

Now that we’ve answered the “what does rizz mean” question, let’s discuss its etymology. The estimation is that the term originated around 2021. The first person to apply it was social media personality Kai Cenat, a famous streamer on Twitch and content creator on YouTube. It didn’t take long for fellow gamers and other influencers to recognize the potential of the new word and start using it.

The creator was a guest on a podcast, and that’s where he had the chance to explain the phrase. Cenat mentioned that it’s something you activate to dazzle those whom you want to attract. The author says that you can be friendly to someone or not express that much attention to a person. But once you activate your “rizz”, you put your game face (AKA “rizz face”) on to impress them.

What Does Having Rizz, or No Rizz, Mean?

If you “have rizz”, that means you are successful in romantic engagements like flirting. For example, a person could be a true swagger—you could sense their confidence in the way they walk and talk. Some people have excellent verbal skills and use jokes and other conversational skills to impress the other party.

The approach employed doesn’t even have to be verbal. You can have charisma and be a pleasant company for other people. Perhaps you are in good physical shape and dress well. If there are people liking your charisma or style, that means you “rizzed them”. Whether it’s verbal or any other type, the odds are your “rizz” is a huge part of why you attract a potential love partner.

But what if one doesn’t have any “rizz”? The term’s meaning is that a person doesn’t have romantic appeal to one or more parties they’d like to attract. Perhaps you can’t “rizz up” only with a certain person, or you may be a shy, non-conversational type who doesn’t find romantic endeavors easy. In that case, you might be said to have “L rizz” — a loss in the flirting game. On the other hand, someone who succeeds every time might have “W rizz”, or even “god-tier rizz”, showing mastery of romantic charm.

The good news is that you can work on your “rizz” and improve your success. Kai Cenat even had a Rizz Academy, where his students could learn how to be better at “rizzing up” other people.

Rizz and Gen Z Culture

among Generation Z, the word “rizz” has become more than slang. It’s a cultural symbol of confidence and charisma. It represents the playful, expressive way Gen Z communicates online. The word’s popularity grew quickly, even earning the title of Word of the Year by Oxford University Press in 2023.

The phrase now extends beyond flirting. It can describe charm in friendships, humor, or any situation where someone stands out. Using “rizz” successfully means balancing confidence and authenticity—traits admired by Gen Z culture.

What Does Rizz Mean on TikTok?

Gumpanat/Shutterstock.com

The creator first used the term to praise someone’s finesse in romantic engagements. But the phrase expanded beyond the cultural impact that he could even imagine amongst Gen Z. Once the “rizz” reached the social media platform TikTok, it went beyond praising success in love endeavors. So, what does “rizz” mean on TikTok?

TikTok users started using “rizz” to discuss someone’s general appeal. If you have great charisma and viewers generally react well to you, that means you can easily “rizz up” your followers. TikTok users even discussed the “rizz” of fictional characters. The best example of a character from the Shrek franchise—the beloved Donkey. Voiced by Eddy Murphy, this animal is so charming that both the viewers and other in-movie characters love him.

Some other fictional characters that can woo the audience and others in their world easily are Sherlock Holmes, Patrick Jane from The Mentalist, and Tyrion Lannister from Game of Thrones.

Monitor how much time your child spends on gadgets and which apps they use. Create a schedule to minimize the harm of screen time and block potentially unsafe apps and social networks using the Kids360 service.

FAQs

What does rizzed her up mean?

In this situation, it means that someone was successful in flirting with the woman they were talking to. “Rizzing her up” means that the girl liked the conversation or non-verbal moves, and the entire engagement ended up on a positive note.

Who invented the word rizz?

Kai Cenat is the person credited with creating this term. He first used it in his online streams to describe someone suave when talking to other people, and a person who’s great at romantic endeavors.

What does it mean to be rizzed?

“Being rizzed” means that someone successfully used charm or flirtation to capture another person’s attention or affection.

Is rizzing someone up flirting?

Yes, “rizzing someone up” essentially means flirting or showing romantic interest with charisma or charm.

What does W rizz mean in sang?

“W rizz” is short for “winning rizz.” It means someone has exceptional charm, confidence, and skill in romantic situations. The opposite would be “L rizz” or “losing rizz,” meaning someone who lacks romantic appeal.

The picture on the front page: TimeImage Production/Shutterstock.com