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.
Examples of kudo in a Sentence
Jordan Greene, People.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Expect a promotion, an award, kudos and acknowledgement.
—Georgia Nicols, The Denver Post, 23 Mar. 2025
Knecht gave kudos to the Florida Legislature, which made improvements to the Clean Waterways Act last year by dedicating money to the state’s water quality and increasing standards for dealing with stormwater.
—Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2025
All kudos to costume designer Sarah Edwards for bringing that outfit together.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kudo
Cite this Entry
“Kudo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kudo. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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