What does kid mean?
“Kid” is an informal word for a child or young person, and it can also describe a young goat. In speech, it often expresses affection or familiarity: an adult may call a child “my kid” or refer to “the kids.” The word can also be mildly dismissive when used about someone very young or inexperienced. As a verb, “kid” means to fool or tease someone, usually in a playful way, as in “Are you kidding me?” Its history explains this range of meaning: the word originally referred to a young goat and was later extended to children, partly as a term of endearment. “Kid” is especially common in informal conversation, while more formal writing often prefers “child” or “young person.”
A child or young person, especially in informal contexts.
"The kid asked for another helping of dessert."
Usually informal; it can be affectionate or dismissive depending on the speaker and situation.
A young goat.
"The kid followed its mother across the pasture."
An informal term for a young person, often used with affection or familiarity.
"Back when I was a kid, we played outside all summer."
This use is informal and can sound nostalgic, affectionate, or slightly patronizing.
To deceive, fool, or jokingly tease someone.
"He was only kidding when he pretended to have lost his keys."
Most common in informal conversation; the teasing sense often implies that the deception is not serious.
The plural is standard for the noun meaning children or young people; for a young goat, it is also “kids.”
"The kids were feeding the young goats."
From a word for a young goat, “kid” became an affectionate word for a child—and later a verb for playful deception.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does kid come from?
The word comes from Middle English, where it referred to a young goat, and ultimately from Old Norse. Its modern sense meaning a child developed from older uses of the word as a term of endearment. The verb meaning to tease or deceive is also relatively recent and is now especially associated with informal speech.
Related word forms
How kid is actually used
“Kid” is informal in most modern English when referring to a person, though it can sound affectionate or dismissive depending on context. The verb “kid” is especially common in casual American English and often means jokingly tease rather than seriously deceive.