kudos (English)

Where does "kudos" come from?

The word 'kudos' is a direct borrowing from the Ancient Greek 'kûdos', which originally denoted glory or renown. Its deepest roots are thought to link to a Proto-Indo-European source associated with either the power of perception or, as some linguists suggest, a specific 'miraculous power'. Today, we use this term as an informal way to offer praise or acknowledge someone's laudable achievemnt.

Full etymology tree

• kudos (English), 'An interjection indicating praise or approval or as an acknowledgement of a laudable achievement.'
  • borrowed κῦδος (kûdos) (Ancient Greek), 'renown, glory'
    • inherited *(s)kewh₁- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to perceive'
    • inherited *kewd-s- (Proto-Indo-European)

Direct ancestors

• κῦδος (Ancient Greek)

Updated June 2026

Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris