The jargon you need to know to stay up to date, because ‘rizz’ is chosen as word of the year – and the dated phrases make you sound old

Struggling to stay on Gen Z’s ever-changing list of slang words? You’re probably not alone.

This morning, Oxford Languages ​​​​has announced that ‘rizz’ has been crowned ‘word of the year’ for 2023.

The term, which was popularized by actor Tom Holland in an interview with Buzzfeed in may is internet slang for “romantic attraction” or charm.

Other contenders for the coveted title were ‘Swiftie’, ‘beige flag’, ‘situationship’ and ‘de-influence’.

As a result of these terms suddenly skyrocketing in popularity, other more well-known slang terms have since fallen out of fashion – as the vernacular of older generations is slowly phased out by Gen Alpha.

And just when you get used to a phrase — whether it’s “slay,” “yeet” or “bet” — it suddenly falls out of favor.

Here, FEMAIL looks at which words to remove from your vocabulary if you want to interact with children – and what to incorporate into a conversation…

WHAT’S OUT?

Using the words ‘slay’, ‘bet’ and the laughing emoji makes you look old, according to Generation Alpha.

The slang terms popular with Generation Z (ages 13 to 26) are “out” and newer terms including “GYAT”, “preppy” and the crying emoji are in.

Influencer Nicole PellegrinoThe 31-year-old New Jersey native recently shared a clip on Tiktok of herself talking to her “Gen Alpha” sister and her “bestie.”

Gen Alpha, those who are currently 13 and under, believe that when you text laugh, you should send the crying emoji instead.

“If something is funny, you do the crying emoji, no one laughs by laughing,” Nicole’s sister explains in the video.

‘You use the skull when you insult someone, as a joke,” she adds.

Here, FEMAIL listed the words that the girls and commenters claim are being overhauled, as well as other beloved Gen Z staples likely on the chopping block:

Kill: A broad term that can casually mean “good work” or can also refer to the flashy and/or fantastic quality of something.

Stake: A term of agreement, meaning ‘OK’ or ‘sure’.

Candle: This means that you are dressed in a chic or sophisticated way and live a chic lifestyle.

Yes: To throw something with violence and force.

Additional: Over the top, and deeply dramatic.

Shook: Shocked, stunned, surprised

WHAT’S IN?

Experts from Oxford University Press say this year’s shortlist of eight words and phrases was chosen to best capture the mood, ethos or concerns of 2023.

Although Rizz’s popularity is believed to have skyrocketed after Holland used the term, it is widely believed that the word was introduced by YouTuber and Twitch streamer Kai Cenat, who uses it with his friends.

Meanwhile, online language learning platform To prepare published their research earlier this year on the most used slang in 2023 in the US.

The terms below are a combination of results from both, as well as terms considered important by Gen Alpha on social media:

Rizz: Internet slang for romantic charm or attraction

Swiftie: An avid fan of singer Taylor Swift

De-influence: The practice of discouraging people from purchasing certain products, or of encouraging people to reduce their consumption of material goods, esp. through social media.

Beige flag: A character trait that indicates that a partner or potential partner is boring or lacks originality; (also) a quality or habit, in particular. of a partner or potential partner, seen as extremely characteristic, but not clearly good or bad.

Heat dome: A persistent high-pressure weather system over a particular geographic area, trapping a mass of hot air below.

Fast: An instruction given to an artificial intelligence program, algorithm, etc., that determines or influences the content it generates.

Parasocial: Denoting a relationship characterized by the one-sided, unrequited feeling of intimacy that a viewer, fan or follower feels for a well-known or prominent figure (usually a media celebrity), in which the follower or fan comes to (falsely) feel) that they know the celebrity as a friend.

Situation: A romantic or sexual relationship that is not considered formal or established.

Like this: Short for ‘suspicious’, popularized after the game Among Us that was often played during Covid lockdowns

Salty: Indignant or offended

Cap: Implying a lie or untruth

Commercial: Delicious

Sheesh: An expression of validation and joy when you see something impressive or cool. It has also been used to express surprise, more similar to the traditional interpretation of the word.

Drip: Exceptional style.

Sul: Usually refers to a man in a relationship with a woman, where he is deeply submissive to his significant other.

Gyat: A term used to describe someone’s curvaceous behind (girl, you’re so fat)

Rizzler: Someone who is good at picking up women

Skibidi: Derived from the YouTube animated series Skibidi Toilet, used in games to describe someone who is bad or evil

Fanum tax: Someone Stealing Your Food comes from a creator named Fanum, who often took snacks from his friends’ meals

Preppy: Wear pink or pastel

Vanilla girl: Wearing collegiate attire

Crying emoji: There’s something funny

Skull emoji: Something is funny in a funny, mean way

HOW TO CONNECT WITH YOUR GEN Z EMPLOYEES

What does it mean when the office work experience cringes at a ‘plain L’? And where exactly is a funny joke someone made by ‘sending’ them?

If you’re not sure what the younger clan in your office is saying, communications experts at Movchan Agency have shared a guide to some of the terms you need to know.

Delulu – delusional

Example: “You’re overjoyed when you think the company will increase your salary after you’ve worked here for three months.”

Common W or L – common gain/loss (a way to agree or disagree with someone’s point or action)

Example:

– And then my boss said she trusts me enough not to micromanage me!

– Well, that’s a usual W for her.

To serve – to look good

Example: ‘Her new outfit looks great on her, she is serving’.

It sends me – it’s very funny

Example: “The meme you sent to our group chat sent me.”

Slap (adj) — something is very cool

Example: “Your performance is poor this year, so I decided to give you a bigger bonus.”

It is giving – comparison with something

Example: “This idea is plagiarism, honey. Do you have anything else?’

Dupe – duplicate

Example: ‘With this workload it is impossible for me to go on holiday. I’m just going to take a bath, have a cocktail and do some skincare – this is my holiday dupe’.

Menty b – nervous breakdown

Example: ‘If you don’t take a break from work, this will lead to burnout. We don’t want menty b’s, do we?’

Side eye – a judgmental look that you express by saying “side eye.”

Example: ‘Gossip about colleagues? Really… side eye!’

The brain is not up to the brain – something doesn’t make sense logically, I don’t understand it.

Example: “I literally don’t have the ability to process what you just said. My brain doesn’t have brains.