Kudos Meaning: Here’s What It Means and How To Use It

The word kudos is one of the most colorful words you can use to congratulate someone. This is kudos’s meaning and how to use it today!

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In the world today, there are plenty of words and phrases that you can use to congratulate people. 

From “congrats” to “nice job” to even just letting out a victorious belt of excitement, joy and glory are very easily expressed in the English language. For that reason, one of the best ways to spice up your vocabulary is by incorporating new words and ways to show people that you’re excited for them. 

One of the best words to use is kudos. It’s a lesser-known word, but it still is one of the best ways to give someone accolades for their achievements. Here is what kudos means, where the word comes from, and how to use it in your own daily conversations!

What Does Kudos Mean?

The English dictionary defines kudos (ˈkjuːdɒs) as the praise, honor, and renown received for an achievement. 

It is an excellent synonym to use in circumstances when someone has accomplished something great, and you want to let them know that you appreciate what they’ve done. Whether someone has won an important game, met a significant other, or passed a challenging class, kudos are a great way to let them know that you are one of their fans! 

Kudos is technically the plural form of the word’s singular form kudo. The word’s usage has shifted over the years. However, kudos is still most commonly used as a singular noun, even though it is structured as a plural word. 

Largely due to the similarity in meaning to words like congratulations and other compliments with a plural form, kudos has adapted to use the form of a plural noun instead of a singular mass noun. 

Where Does the Word Kudos Come From?

Many academic circles agree that the word kudos comes from a transliteration of the ancient Gree word kūdos which acknowledged fame, astuteness, and magical glory to those who found success in battle and leadership. 

Kūdos was a commonly used expression of approval towards a hero’s honorable and commendable actions.

Around the late 19th century and early 20th century, the word started to be used in the context of the English language due to people’s growing interest in the ancient Greek civilization. Kudos began to be given in headlines and journalistic writing, which helped to contribute to people’s increased knowledge of the word. 

Kudos’s acceptance into the English language was rapid and easy. The term developed a dedicated place in the everyday conversations people were having. The word kudos has since become a large part of American heritage, thanks to its increased usage throughout the 1920s. 

However, just because kudos was initially used over a hundred years ago doesn’t mean that it isn’t still relevant. Since its inception as a popular word, kudos has continued to be used by people in many different contexts. 

If you ever want to congratulate someone in a way that’s a little more exciting, don’t hesitate to use the word kudos!

How to Use Kudos in Daily Conversation

There are many different ways to use kudos in your everyday conversation. Here are some practical usage guides to help you get started! 

One of the most common ways to use kudos is as a noun. It describes and details the goodwill and congratulatory statements that people bring to people who have found success. 

When referring to external congratulations, a good example sentence would be: “When he came from work, he received kudos from his family from the promotion.” It is used just like a regular noun in that regard. 

Another common way that the word is used is to offer compliments and congratulations at the beginning of a sentence. This is a relatively informal way to praise and honor someone for their magnanimity and hard work. 

The following sentence is an excellent example of how that would play out in real conversation: “Kudos to everyone who came early to the show to help get it set up!”

Another less common way to use the word is simply as an interjection, like “congrats” or “nice job!” This is technically less grammatically correct, but it is still something that will commonly show up in real-world conversation. 

The reality is that the English language is constantly shifting and adapting to fit the way that people talk. As long as you are using words in a clear way that everyone understands, you can rest assured that you’re on the right track! 

Example Sentences Using the Word Kudos

The best way to learn how to use words is by seeing them used in example sentences or hearing them used by the people around you. Once you’ve seen them appropriately used for long enough, you can implement them into your own vocabulary and start linguistically influencing other people. 

Here are some great example sentences that you can use to guide your own use of the word kudos:

  • The kudos I received for reading the entire dictionary of the English language was just the cherry on top of the joy I got from learning so many new words! 
  • The young playwright got tons of kudos from the crowd over his new drama based on the founding of Princeton University. 
  • Kudos to Josh and Jordan for making some of the best cookies in the world. 
  • He was looking for kudos over how much profit he had made for the company, but nobody gave it to him. 
  • Kudos to Benja for somehow managing to make the 5th edition of the printed urban dictionary all on his own.

Expanding your own language knowledge is one of the best ways to show people your knowledge, so don’t hesitate to start using these words in your own conversations! 

Kudos to you for expanding your vocabulary today.

Sources: 

  1. Kudos Definition & Meaning | Merriam-Webster
  2. Transliteration – Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com
  3. Kudo Definition & Meaning | Merriam-Webster
  4. KUDOS | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary | Cambridge Dictionary