The Oxford word of the year has been revealed this week, and it's a peculiar one. Language is always evolving, and boffins have concluded that 2023 can be defined by the word "rizz".

If you're scratching your head, it's internet slang for romantic appeal or charm, and is mostly used by young people. That probably explains why it's a new one on me, as the time it takes to scroll down to my year of birth increases.

Tom Holland used the term 'rizz' in an interview that went viral earlier this year, so I'm told, which only served to fuel its popularity. It was one of eight words that made the shortlist, and I wonder how many will stand the test of time. Last year's word, if you remember, was "goblin mode", which is another slang term to describe "unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy behaviour". I am fairly certain I've never heard it used in real life.

I gather if you hang out in Tik Tok circles, you'll be very familiar with "rizz". The exact definition, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is "style, charm, or attractiveness, and the ability to attract a romantic or sexual partner". I'm reliably informed by Generation Z types that it can also be used as a verb, so to "rizz up" means to chat someone up. I'd rather we looked at bringing back the word "groovy", to be honest, but here we are.

Let's see if any of the others that made this year's shortlist ring any bells...

Beige Flag - I wrote about this one earlier this year. It's a warning sign that a potential partner is dull as ditchwater. Less serious than a red flag, but perhaps an indication that they are not the dreamboat you're hoping for.

Situationship - a romantic relationship that is not considered to be formal or established.

Swiftie - I guess I might qualify as one of these, as I went to see the Taylor Swift Eras film at the cinema. It's a slang term for a super fan of mega rich pop star Taylor Swift.

Parasocial - If you're a big fan of someone famous, and falsely feel close to them in real life, or that you actually know them. Jed Maxwell from Alan Partridge comes to mind here!

Heat dome - a weather term which describes a persistent high pressure system over a particular geographical area, trapping in the hot air below it. Kind of a summery version of a snow globe.

Prompt - This means an instruction given to an artificial intelligence program. We're reliably informed that all of our jobs will eventually be replaced by AI, according to Elon Musk, so I guess eventually I can lie in bed and listen to a robot version of myself presenting the Tameside Radio breakfast show. The compilers of the Collins Dictionary revealed last month that their word of the year is "artificial intelligence". Will we soon be paying to see robots do stand-up comedy? It's all a bit strange.

De-influencing - discouraging people from buying certain products, or a general message of discouragement from buying material goods, disseminated on social media. I could do with one of those which stops me from buying more books before I've read any on the groaning bookshelves I already own.

If you thought "rizz" was a bit of a daft choice, the laughing emoji was voted as word of the year in 2015. I'm told that Generation Z find this to be old hat and dated nowadays, a bit like poking on Facebook, actually picking up the phone and making a call to a friend, and full stops (which apparently are seen by some young people as a sign of abruptness!).

It's hard to keep up, but I hope this has been a helpful language lesson. Since we have an Ikea in Tameside, I'll give you a couple of bonus Swedish phrases. If someone has tomtar pa loftet, it means they are a bit bananas and, translated literally, have elves in the attic! Preferable to Twitter trolls, I suppose. Meanwhile, sockergris is something I'd describe myself as. It literally means "sugar pig", i.e. someone who is addicted to sugar. Pass me a bag of Tangfastics, and I'll go into full sockergris mode.

I wonder if the Swedes have a word for a kitten who has a penchant for chewing through cables? Colin Cann, our new addition to the household, decided our Sky broadband wire was preferable to all of his lovely toys this week. He's too cute to be on the naughty step for long, though.