What does kiddo mean?
“Kiddo” is an informal noun meaning a child or young person, especially one regarded with affection by an older speaker. It is a familiar alternative to “kid,” often carrying a warm, conversational tone rather than a strictly neutral one. Parents, relatives, teachers, and other adults may use it when speaking directly to a younger person or when describing a child in a friendly context. In everyday writing, expressions such as “my kiddo” sound especially personal and affectionate, while “little kiddo” emphasizes youth. The word is common in both British and American English, but it is not usually appropriate for formal, academic, or official prose. Although it can refer to any young person, it most often describes a child. The word has a gentle, familiar quality that distinguishes it from more formal terms such as “juvenile” and makes it particularly suited to conversational and nostalgic speech.
nounAn informal, usually affectionate term for a child or young person. It is often used when speaking to or about someone younger than the speaker.
- An informal, often affectionate term for a child or young person.
"The kids asked whether their dad would come to the school play."
"The kiddo was already asleep when we arrived."
"Teachers sometimes join the children for an afternoon activity, which the kiddos clearly enjoy."
The standard plural is “kiddoes,” with the ending “-es.”
"The kiddoes were playing in the garden."
A “kiddo” adds warmth to the word “kid”: it is the familiar, affectionate way adults often talk about children and young people.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does kiddo come from?
“Kiddo” is a diminutive form built on the English word “kid,” with the familiar suffix “-o” added to create an affectionate or informal term. The development reflects a common English pattern in which a familiar word is enlarged or softened with a diminutive ending. It belongs to the same broad word family as “kiddie,” another informal spelling of “kid.”
How kiddo is actually used
Informal and usually affectionate. It is common in speech and informal writing, especially when an adult refers to a child or addresses a younger person; it is less suitable for formal or impersonal contexts.
Easily confused with kiddo
“Kid” is the more neutral and common term for a child, while “kiddo” is generally more informal and affectionate.