"kiddo" means: A child.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
kiddo
(US, Australia, NZ, Philippines) A child.
Seen in the wild
2pm can't get here fast enough... Miss the kiddo!
Wonderful!! My kiddo was a camper & UJL (counselor in training) at Camp Brave Trails. Our kids need community and fun and joy. We need to support them, protect them, advocate for them, love them. They're kids just lik…
Oh gosh, poor kiddo, and I’m sure anyone out there is scared . 😱 I’ll hold good thoughts for them all!
The second my kiddo could get it, she got it. VACCINES SAVE LIVES YALL
Of course! (And while I'm not sure what the situation is with kiddo's Dad/grandparents on that side, to the extent that you do separate parties this gives that side Friday/your side Saturday).
Definitions
(US, Australia, NZ, Philippines) A child.
"kiddo" means: A child.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
"kiddo" means: A child.. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. Note the regional or dialect label (US) — usage may sound odd outside that variety. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.
“2pm can't get here fast enough... Miss the kiddo!”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Wonderful!! My kiddo was a camper & UJL (counselor in training) at Camp Brave Trails. Our kids need community and fun and joy. We need to support them, protect them, advocate for them, love them. They're kids just like any other.”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Oh gosh, poor kiddo, and I’m sure anyone out there is scared . 😱 I’ll hold good thoughts for them all!”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Of course! (And while I'm not sure what the situation is with kiddo's Dad/grandparents on that side, to the extent that you do separate parties this gives that side Friday/your side Saturday).”
— Bluesky· May 2026“seems to be quite real - including some very typical bored kiddo fidgeting. who thought a pedophile rambling in front of children was a good photo op?? www.msn.com/en-us/news/n...”
— Bluesky· May 2026
Comments
(US, Australia, NZ, Philippines) A close friend; especially used as a form of address.
Okay, kiddo, I gotta run.
“The second my kiddo could get it, she got it. VACCINES SAVE LIVES YALL”
— Bluesky· May 2026
Comments
For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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🇦🇺About Australian & NZ slang slang
Aussie and Kiwi vocabulary — bogan, daggy, brekkie, sheila, bach, jandals — the whole Antipodean lexicon, including outback dialect, surf and beach culture, and Sydney/Melbourne street slang.
See all Australian & NZ slang slang on Slangora.
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Other words near "kiddo" (K)
Browse all slang words starting with K.