kiddo

/ˈkɪdəʊ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkɪdəʊ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈki-(ˌ)dō/ (ame, mw)

kiddo — noun

  • kiddosingular
  • kiddosplural

1. a warm, casual word for addressing a child or another younger person you know we

1.名詞B1
釋義

a warm, casual word for addressing a child or another younger person you know well

例句

Easy there, kiddo, the soup bowl is still too hot.

vocative warning to a child

Come on, kiddo, the school bus is already waiting outside.

sentence-medial vocative in a prompt

同義詞
  • buddy

    common direct address, but often used to adults as well

  • champ

    warm, encouraging way to address a child, often after success

  • sweetie

    more affectionate and softer in tone, often used within families

文法句型

used vocatively: '..., kiddo'

used sentence-initially: 'Kiddo, ...'

用法筆記

Used for speaking directly to someone, not for describing them from a distance. It is most natural from an older person to a child or younger person and can sound patronizing if used to unrelated adults.

常見錯誤

❌The new kiddo in class sat beside me.
✅The new kid in class sat beside me.
💡this sense is for talking to someone directly, not for describing them from a distance.
❌Excuse me, kiddo,' she said to the elderly cashier.
✅Excuse me,' she said to the elderly cashier.
💡the word is usually used to children or much younger people, so it can sound rude to adults.

2. a child spoken of in a warm, playful, or casual way

2.名詞B1
釋義

a child spoken of in a warm, playful, or casual way

例句

The daycare has a reading corner where each kiddo picks a cushion.

each kiddo + verb

One excited kiddo ran straight to the ice-cream truck after school.

a/an + adjective + kiddo

同義詞
  • child

    neutral and suitable in both formal and informal settings

  • kid

    the most common informal equivalent

  • youngster

    often suggests an older child or teenager

  • little one

    more affectionate and often used by parents or caregivers

反義詞
  • adult

    the neutral opposite in terms of age

  • grown-up

    informal opposite, often used with children

文法句型

a/an + kiddo

every + kiddo

plural kiddos

用法筆記

Informal register — adults use it when speaking warmly about children in everyday conversation. Distinguish from sense 1, where the word is used to address the child directly.

常見錯誤

❌The hospital offers free meals for every kiddo on the ward.
✅The hospital offers free meals for every child on the ward.
💡'kiddo' sounds too playful for formal or official writing.
❌My grandfather is still an active kiddo at eighty.
✅My grandfather is still active at eighty.
💡the noun refers to a child, not to an adult acting young.