Rizz is slang for charm, specifically the ability to attract and flirt with someone. If a person has rizz, they can talk to someone they fancy without falling over their words, and it tends to go well. The word is short for charisma, taken from the middle of the word rather than the start.
It works as a noun (“he’s got rizz”), and also as a verb: to “rizz someone up” means to chat them up successfully.
Where the term comes from
Rizz is widely credited to the American streamer Kai Cenat, who popularised it with his audience in the early 2020s. From there it spread across TikTok, YouTube and X, and it became one of the defining slang words of Gen Z.
In 2023, Oxford University Press named rizz its Word of the Year, which is how a lot of people over 30 first heard of it. That moment pushed it fully mainstream, and it is now used by everyone from teenagers to brands trying a bit too hard.
A few variations have grown up around it:
- W rizz: good rizz (W for win).
- L rizz: bad rizz, a failed attempt (L for loss).
- Unspoken rizz: charm that works without saying much, often just a look or a confident presence.
- Rizzler: someone with a lot of rizz.
What rizz looks like
Rizz is not about lines. The people who have it usually show some combination of these:
- They are relaxed. They do not seem desperate for a particular outcome.
- They make good eye contact and smile easily.
- They are playful, with a bit of teasing that never tips into rudeness.
- They ask questions and actually listen to the answers.
- They notice specific things and comment on them, rather than using generic compliments.
- They are comfortable with a pause in the conversation.
- They make their interest clear without pushing it.
Good rizz also reads the room. Knowing when someone is not interested, and backing off gracefully, is part of the skill.
An example
Two openers on a dating app, both responding to a profile photo of someone at a pub quiz:
L rizz: hey beautiful, u up?
W rizz: Okay, important question. What’s your team’s specialist subject, and how often does it actually come up?
The second works because it is specific, light and easy to answer. It shows they actually looked at the profile, and it starts a conversation rather than demanding attention. For more ideas, see our guide to flirty texts that actually work.
Why it happens
Rizz is neutral, so the better question is why some people seem to have it and others do not. The honest answer is that most rizz is learned, not born.
- Practice. People who talk to lots of people get more comfortable doing it.
- Low pressure. Rizz comes more easily when you are not treating every interaction as make-or-break.
- Self-assurance. Feeling okay about who you are makes it easier to be playful and direct.
- Genuine curiosity. People who are actually interested in others come across as charming because they pay attention.
The word itself took off because it gave a short, fun name to something people have always talked about. “Charisma” sounds like a personality trait. “Rizz” sounds like something you can have a good or bad day with.
Rizz vs peacocking vs negging
Peacocking is about getting noticed through bold clothing or accessories. It is an attention grab, whereas rizz is what happens once the conversation starts.
Negging is a manipulative tactic of giving backhanded compliments to knock someone’s confidence. It is sometimes confused with playful teasing, but it is the opposite of real rizz. Good rizz makes the other person feel good about the conversation, not worse about themselves.
How to get more rizz
You cannot download charm, but you can get noticeably better at it.
Drop the scripts
Pickup lines and copied openers sound like what they are. Use what is in front of you: their profile, the place you are in, something they just said.
Ask, then follow up
The difference between an interview and a flirt is the follow-up. If they say they have just been to Lisbon, do not move on to the next question. Ask what they ate.
Be clear about your interest
Rizz needs a bit of directness. At some point, say the thing:
I’m enjoying this. Fancy getting a drink this week?
You’re good fun. I’d like to take you out properly.
Stay relaxed about the outcome
If they are not interested, that is information, not a disaster. People can sense when you are okay either way, and it makes you more attractive. Our guide on how to flirt without it being weird goes into the practical side, and how to build attraction on a first date covers what to do once you are actually sitting across from them.
FAQs
What does rizz stand for?
It is short for charisma. The word was clipped from the middle of “charisma” rather than the beginning, which is a bit unusual for slang but is why it sounds the way it does.
Is rizz a real word?
It is in several major dictionaries now, and Oxford University Press named it Word of the Year in 2023. Whether it sounds right in your mouth is another question.
What is unspoken rizz?
Unspoken rizz is charm that works without much talking: a confident look, an easy smile, or just a relaxed presence that makes people want to come and talk to you.
Can you learn rizz?
Yes. Most of it comes down to practice, curiosity and being comfortable with yourself. People who seem naturally charming have usually just had more reps.