kiddo
Americannoun
Usage
What does kiddo mean? Kiddo is an informal way to refer to or address a child or a person who’s younger than the speaker. It can be used for a person of any gender. It's typically intended to imply familiarity or affection. It's especially used as a familiar way to address one's own child or grandchild. Kiddo is most often used in greetings or friendly speech, as in Hey there, kiddo or We’ll get ’em next time, kiddo. Kiddo is also often used as a more informal synonym for kid, as in Grandpa is spending time with the kiddos down at the lake. Kiddo can sometimes be used to imply that a person is inexperienced or lacks wisdom, as in Look, kiddo, leave this one to the professionals. Example: Are you ready for the trip to Disneyland with your dad, kiddo?
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of kiddo
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
A cleaning tip to liberate your home from sticker tyranny: If you have a kiddo in your life, you know that stickers can magically appear on just about every surface within their arm’s reach.
From Slate ● Jul. 13, 2026
“You think about a kiddo that maybe is having a hard time moving through their emotions, these are the kiddos that need to move their bodies,” she said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026
And someday, kiddo, you will appreciate the simple gifts your children give you.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 28, 2025
The cornerstone fabric features zebras and bamboo, giving a sense of wilderness while ensuring a timeless appeal that will grow with the kiddo.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 13, 2023
“I hope it’s a phase, anyway. But, kiddo, I gotta warn you: You’re entering some hard years.”
From "The Thing About Jellyfish" by Ali Benjamin
"We will have an Officer stationed at some of the schools to assist in reassuring everyone that the kiddoes are safe," the post said.
From BBC ● Dec. 17, 2021
“It sucks when Sunday morning chocolate chip pancakes for the kiddos all of a sudden ends up in the ‘discretionary spending’ category of the budget.”
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 3, 2026
Miss Nancy, the host of the early-TV kids’ show “Romper Room,” had a magic mirror that allowed her to see all the kiddos watching at home.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 4, 2025
Grab-N-Go salads aren’t just easy to toss into your kiddos’ lunchbox — they also ensure that your kiddos are getting their necessary servings of veggies during the school day.
From Salon ● Aug. 22, 2025
His post detailed his continued contributions to ABC News programming, and touted the opportunity to spend “more quality time with my kiddos on the weekends.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2024
“But you’d have to like reading since not a single one of these kiddos goes to sleep without a book.”
From "Okay for Now" by Gary D. Schmidt
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
