kudo

noun

ku·​do ˈkü-(ˌ)dō 

ˈkyü-

plural kudos ˈkü-(ˌ)dōz 

ˈkyü-

1

: award, honor

… a score of honorary degrees and … other kudos.

—Time

2

: compliment, praise

… rarely hear that kind of kudo to men anymore.

—Ellen Goodman

Is kudo a word?: Usage Guide

Some commentators hold that since kudos is a singular word it cannot be used as a plural and that the word kudo is impossible. But kudo does exist; it is simply one of the most recent words created by back-formation from another word misunderstood as a plural. Kudos was introduced into English in the 19th century; it was used in contexts where a reader unfamiliar with Greek could not be sure whether it was singular or plural. By the 1920s it began to appear as a plural, and about 25 years later kudo began to appear. It may have begun as a misunderstanding, but then so did cherry and pea.

Synonyms of kudo

• award
• prize
• accolade

Examples of kudo in a Sentence

an honorary degree from her alma mater that is simply the latest kudo for an outstanding career in journalism

a kudo is in order for the way the young people acquitted themselves at their first formal dance

Recent Examples on the Web

Max’s parents also gave kudos to Quandt for taking Max and his ideas seriously as a partner. —Alexa Stone updated March 24, Kansas City Star, 24 Mar. 2026

Expect kudos, awards and acknowledgement. —Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026

And Caesar kept collecting kudos. —CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026

And then there’s Florida State, which didn’t make the tournament under first-year coach Luke Loucks, but the Seminoles still deserve kudos. —Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from kudos (taken as a plural)

First Known Use

1822, in the meaning defined at sense 1