kinda

IPA/ˈkaɪ.ndə/
KK[kˈɪndə]IPA/ˈkaɪ.ndə/

kinda — adverb

1. An informal written form of 'kind of', used in casual speech and text to indicat

1.adverbA2
Definition

An informal written form of 'kind of', used in casual speech and text to indicate that something is true to some degree but not completely or exactly.

Example

Priya was kinda nervous about her first day at the new school.

kinda + adjective describing a feeling

This coffee tastes kinda bitter — did you put too much in?

kinda + adjective describing taste

Common collocations
  • kinda + adjective
  • kinda + verb
  • kinda + like + noun phrase
Synonyms
  • kind of

    The full form; slightly less informal and can be used in neutral spoken English.

  • sort of

    Similar informal register; often interchangeable with 'kinda' but more common in British English.

  • somewhat

    More formal; appropriate in academic or professional writing where 'kinda' would be out of place.

  • a little

    Similar meaning of 'to a small degree', but less vague than 'kinda'.

Grammar Patterns

kinda + adjective

kinda + verb

kinda + like + noun phrase

Usage Note

Kinda is NOT appropriate in formal writing such as essays, business letters, or academic papers. Use 'kind of' or 'somewhat' instead. It is common in text messages, social media posts, and everyday conversation. The pronunciation is also reduced — 'kind of' spoken quickly sounds like 'kinda'.

Common Mistakes

I kinda of like it.
I kinda like it.
'Kinda' already contains the meaning of 'of', so adding a second 'of' is redundant.
She said it in a kinda rude way in her email.
She said it in a kind of rude way in her email.
Use the full form 'kind of' when the register is neutral or semi-formal, such as in email or class discussion.

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

Kinda, kind of, and sort of all sit on the informal side of the register spectrum and are largely interchangeable when you mean 'to some extent' in casual speech. Sort of has a slightly more hesitant or approximating tone than kind of — you might say 'sort of blue-green' when you are unsure of the colour. Somewhat is the formal counterpart and never appears in casual texting: 'The results were somewhat disappointing' would sound out of place as 'The results were kinda disappointing' in a business report. A little leans toward 'a small amount' whereas kinda and its synonyms convey vagueness or approximation more than smallness. For example, 'I'm a little tired' suggests a specific degree of tiredness, while 'I'm kinda tired' hedges the statement without giving a precise level.

kind of ↗sort of ↗somewhat ↗a little ↗

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Kinda is a contracted spelling of 'kind of' that emerged in print during the early 1900s as writers tried to capture the way people naturally run the two words together in quick, casual speech. It follows the same pattern as other reduced forms such as 'gonna' (going to) and 'wanna' (want to), where the spoken reduction eventually gained a standard written representation.