noun

kudo

KOO-doh

Kudo (noun) means a single piece of praise or recognition (a back-formed singular of "kudos"). Example: “She earned a kudo from her manager for closing the deal early.”

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noun

A single piece of praise or recognition (a back-formed singular of "kudos").

"She earned a kudo from her manager for closing the deal early."

verb

To praise or compliment someone.

"The coach kudoed the whole team after the win."

How to use kudo

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn informal singular form of "kudos," used for one piece of praise.

Common mistake

Strictly speaking, "kudos" is already a singular Greek-derived noun, not a plural — "kudo" is a common but technically mistaken back-formation. Many people use it anyway.

Easily confused with

kudos →

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

kudoed past tense, kudos plural, Kudos plural, kudos singular

Test yourself on “kudo” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She earned a _____ from her manager for closing the deal early.

Etymology

Formed by mistakenly treating "kudos" as if it were a plural noun ending in -s, and back-forming a singular "kudo" from it.

Rhymes for kudo

udo judo Ludo sudo pseudo

See all rhymes for kudo →

Frequently asked questions

What does “kudo” mean?

The word “kudo” means a single piece of praise or recognition (a back-formed singular of "kudos"). In plain terms, an informal singular form of "kudos," used for one piece of praise.

How do you pronounce “kudo”?

“Kudo” is pronounced KOO-doh (/ˈkuː.doʊ/ in IPA).

How do you use “kudo” in a sentence?

Here is “kudo” used in a sentence: “She earned a kudo from her manager for closing the deal early.”

What part of speech is “kudo”?

Depending on how it is used, “kudo” can be a noun and a verb.

How many meanings does “kudo” have?

“Kudo” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a single piece of praise or recognition (a back-formed singular of "kudos").