kg

IPA/kˌeɪdʒˈiː/
IPA/kˌeɪdʒˈiː/

kg — abbreviation

1. a short written form of 'kilogram', the standard metric unit used for measuring

1.abbreviationA1
Definition

a short written form of 'kilogram', the standard metric unit used for measuring weight: one kg equals one thousand grams.

Example

Dewi's baby weighed 3.8 kg when she was born at the clinic.

[number] + kg for reporting a measurement

Bilal put 2 kg of tomatoes and a bag of rice into his basket.

kg + of + [noun] for quantities of items

Common collocations
  • 5 kg
  • kg of rice
  • weighs 10 kg
  • per kg
  • kg bag

Grammar Patterns

[number] + kg

kg + of + [noun]

Usage Note

kg is written without a space between the number and the abbreviation in most styles (e.g., 5 kg). It stays the same in plural — you write 10 kg, not 10 kgs. In formal writing, the full word 'kilogram' is often preferred; kg is common on labels, receipts, and everyday notes.

Common Mistakes

The bag weighs 5 kgs.
The bag weighs 5 kg.
kg is an abbreviation, not a plural noun; it does not add an -s.
The limit is 23 KG per suitcase.
The limit is 23 kg per suitcase.
The abbreviation kg is normally written in lowercase, not all caps.

Word family

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • up to [number] kg
  • [number] kg of

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekFrenchEnglish

Kg is an abbreviation of 'kilogram', which was borrowed from French 'kilogramme' in the early 1800s. The French word was created from Greek 'khilioi' (thousand) and Late Greek 'gramma' (a small unit of weight). The abbreviation became widely used as the metric system spread across the world.