Kudos [ˈkjuːdɒs] (plural noun)
The term ‘kudos’ refers to the prestige and social distinction gained through a remarkable achievement or a demonstration of exceptional merit.


In this week’s edition of ‘Word of the Week’, we explore the etymological origins of ‘kudos’, a word that has made a natural transition from the academic halls of Ancient Greek to the colloquial language of modern corporate and social environments.

The term kudos translates most accurately into Spanish as prestigio, crédito, or reconocimiento, though it is often colloquially expressed as felicitaciones or elogios depending on the context. In a more formal or academic setting, you might use renombre or gloria to capture its Greek origins of "glory gained through achievement." For example, the sentence "She received kudos for her work" would be "Recibió reconocimiento por su trabajo," while a more informal "Kudos to you!" functions similarly to the Spanish "¡Mi más sincera enhorabuena!" or "¡Te mereces todo el crédito!"

Derived from the Greek kŷdos (κῦδος), meaning ‘glory’ or ‘renown’ specifically gained through heroic deeds, the word is used in contemporary English as a singular uncountable noun, despite the fact that its apparent ‘s’ ending often confuses speakers and leads them to treat it as plural.

To offer kudos is to give a distinctive form of social prestige; it is not simply a synonym for ‘praise’, but rather a recognition of the prestige and honour that typically accompany someone following a formidable achievement or a demonstration of exceptional merit. Although the pursuit of such recognition can sometimes be spectacular, as seen in those who choose personal fame over tangible results, genuine recognition remains an essential tool for fostering community respect and validating the intellectual or creative progress that defines our advancement as a society.

Some examples

To better incorporate the term ‘kudos’ into your more advanced vocabulary, take a look at these examples, which highlight its function as a singular uncountable noun denoting prestige:

After completing the marathon in under three hours, Sarah received plenty of kudos from her fellow runners for her incredible discipline.

Even though the project was a group effort, the manager took all the kudos for the success, which left the rest of the team feeling a bit frustrated.

Winning the national science fair brought the young student a great deal of kudos and even led to several scholarship offers from top universities.

You deserve a lot of kudos for organizing such a smooth event on such a short notice and with a very limited budget.

While some influencers post online just for the kudos of "likes" and "shares," others are genuinely trying to make a positive impact on their community.