kudos

¹ American  

[koo-dohz, -dohs, -dos, kyoo-] / ˈku doʊz, -doʊs, -dɒs, ˈkyu- /

noun

(used with a singular verb)

1. honor; glory; acclaim.

   He received kudos from everyone on his performance.

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kudos ² American  

[koo-dohz, kyoo-] / ˈku doʊz, ˈkyu- /

noun

1. plural of kudo.

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kudos British  

/ ˈkjuːdɒs /

noun

1. (functioning as singular) acclaim, glory, or prestige

   the kudos of playing Carnegie Hall

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Usage

In the 19th century, kudos1 entered English as a singular noun, a transliteration of a Greek singular noun kŷdos meaning “praise or renown.” It was at first used largely in academic circles, but it gained wider currency in the 1920s in journalistic use, particularly in headlines: Playwright receives kudos. Kudos given to track record breakers. Kudos is often used, as in these examples, in contexts that do not clearly indicate whether it is singular or plural; and because it ends in -s, the marker of regular plurals in English, kudos has come to be widely regarded and used as a plural noun meaning “accolades” rather than as a singular mass noun meaning “honor or glory.” The singular form kudo has been produced from kudos by back formation, the same process that gave us the singular pea from pease, originally both singular and plural, sherry from Xeres (an earlier spelling of the Spanish city Jerez), and cherry from the French singular noun cherise. This singular form has developed the meanings “honor” and “statement of praise, accolade.” Both the singular form kudo and kudos as a plural are today most common in journalistic writing. Some usage guides warn against using them.

Etymology

Origin of kudos

First recorded in 1825–35; irregular transliteration of Greek kŷdos

Explanation

If you're really good at judo, you will get kudos, or praise and congratulations, for your speed and strength. You get kudos for doing something well, whether a class presentation, a chore, or a performance in a game or recital. Getting kudos for doing something that makes you famous or well-known is possible too, though it's easier to get kudos just for doing a good job. Kudos looks like a plural noun, but the s is just the ending of the original Greek word.

Example Sentences

Nevertheless, kudos to the costume team for a different outfit that Grace wears in the second half of the film that’s an absolute jaw-dropper of goth couture with black netting and a tiara.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

So kudos to the president for shooting down Hassett’s idea.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 27, 2026

If you saw all of this coming, kudos to you—you knew more about Maye’s potential than even his top receiver.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 29, 2025

If Grealish has the medals but not the kudos, then the opposite can be said of Rice.

From BBC • Nov. 25, 2025

“I didn’t send that email about you. Trust me, I liked it, and kudos to the guy who made it...but I didn’t have anything to do with that.”

From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan

Related Words

• applause