kudos

¹

[ koo-dohz, -dohs, -dos, kyoo- ]

noun

, (used with a singular verb)

1. honor; glory; acclaim:

   He received kudos from everyone on his performance.

kudos

²

[ koo-dohz, kyoo- ]

noun

1. plural of kudo.

kudos

/ ˈkjuːdɒs /

noun

1. functioning as singular acclaim, glory, or prestige

   the kudos of playing Carnegie Hall

Usage Note

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of kudos¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of kudos¹

C18: from Greek

Example Sentences

Changing public opinion, of course, will be the work of a generation or maybe two, but kudos to Stewart for getting it started.

From The Daily Beast

“There is a certain cultural kudos attached to collecting today,” Gilkes says.

From The Daily Beast

Kudos to the voters for nominating Allison Janney and Beau Bridges for the blistering guest turns, too.

From The Daily Beast

Kudos to Ex-Mayor Mike, whose Harvard commencement address called for inclusion of more conservatives in higher education.

From The Daily Beast

Kudos to Spacey for being a good sport, but if we're honest, his moves look more Tampa than Mumbai.

From The Daily Beast

For Kum Kale and for what he has done, suffered and lost he deserves great Kudos in his country.

From Project Gutenberg

It was certainly a sporting method, and the hunter got many skins and much local kudos, the latter being certainly well earned.

From Project Gutenberg

Well, I don't say I mayn't have got a certain amount of what they call "kudos," owing to Andromeda.

From Project Gutenberg

And compared with the kudos that would be hers, even the foregone royalty fell away into the background.

From Project Gutenberg

Much kudos has accrued to Mr. Kruger for his magnanimity and much profit for his astuteness!

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• applause