kids
HighInformal to Neutral in reference to children; Formal only in specific zoological contexts.
Definition
Meaning
The plural form of 'kid', meaning children or young people, often in informal contexts.
Can refer to the young of animals, particularly goats, in a literal sense. In modern slang, can also refer to someone's friends or peer group in an informal, often affectionate way (e.g., 'my kids at work').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Informal term for children, considered casual and often affectionate. The singular 'kid' is also used as a term of address. While widespread, it may be considered insufficiently formal in certain institutional or very polite contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is similar in both varieties. The term is slightly more entrenched as the default informal word for children in AmE, whereas BrE might more readily use 'children' in some semi-formal contexts where AmE would still use 'kids'. The sense 'to joke' for the verb 'to kid' is equally common in both.
Connotations
Generally warm and informal. In BrE, using 'kids' in formal writing (e.g., school reports) was once more marked as informal than in AmE, but this distinction is fading.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in both varieties, especially in spoken language and informal writing.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Adj] kidskids [V-ing]kids [Prep] [NP] (e.g., kids in the garden)kids [Relative Clause]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Kids' stuff (something very easy)”
- “Handle with kid gloves (treat very delicately)”
- “Like kids in a sweetshop (very excited)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in HR contexts discussing parental leave or family-friendly policies ('employee with young kids').
Academic
Avoided in formal writing (use 'children', 'adolescents', 'youth'). Acceptable in informal seminar discussions.
Everyday
The default, high-frequency term for children in conversation.
Technical
Used in zoology for the young of goats. Also in computing/gaming ('kid-friendly mode').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He's only kidding you, don't take it seriously.
- Are you kidding me? That's impossible!
American English
- I was just kidding around, no offense meant.
- Don't kid yourself, it's not going to be easy.
adjective
British English
- She bought a kid leather handbag.
- The kid brother tag really annoyed him.
American English
- They sat at the kid table during Thanksgiving.
- He has a kid sister in high school.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The kids are playing in the park.
- She has two kids, a boy and a girl.
- Do these shoes come in kids' sizes?
- Getting the kids ready for school is a morning challenge.
- The museum has a great activity section for kids.
- Most of my friends have young kids now.
- We're looking for a neighbourhood that's good for raising kids.
- The film was marketed as adult entertainment, not kids' fare.
- Her research focuses on how kids interact with digital media.
- Politicians often invoke 'the future of our kids' to justify policy changes.
- The novel explores the fraught dynamic between the ageing artist and his grown kids.
- The software includes robust parental controls to create a kid-safe browsing environment.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a young goat (a kid) playing — just like young children.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHILDREN ARE YOUNG ANIMALS (from the original goat meaning).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'козлята' (baby goats) unless specifically about animals. The direct Russian equivalent 'дети' is neutral, whereas 'kids' is informal, so register mismatch is the main trap.
- Do not use 'kids' in formal written Russian-to-English translations where 'children' is required.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'kids' as a singular noun (e.g., 'He is a kids' is wrong; use 'He is a kid').
- Using in overly formal writing where 'children' is expected.
- Misspelling the possessive as 'kids's' instead of 'kids''.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'kids' be LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'kids' is primarily an informal term for children. In formal writing, such as academic papers or official documents, 'children' is the preferred term.
'Children' is the standard, neutral plural of 'child'. 'Kids' is the informal, often more affectionate equivalent. In most spoken language, they are interchangeable, but 'children' is required for formal registers.
Yes, informally. 'Kids' can refer to offspring of any age in casual conversation (e.g., 'My kids are in their twenties'). For greater precision, terms like 'teenagers', 'adolescents', or 'young adults' are used.
It originates from Old Norse 'kith', meaning a young goat. By the late 16th century, it began being used informally for a human child, initially in criminal slang, before entering general informal usage.