This guide explains the two main meanings of kind of in everyday English.
Learn the difference between kind of, kinds of, sort of, type of, and kinda.
You’ll also see practical examples, corrections, and common expressions.
Quick Answer
Kind of has two main uses. It can mean “a type of”, or it can mean “somewhat” in informal English.
Compare “What kind of music?” with “I’m kind of tired.” The first asks about a category. The second means “somewhat tired.”
TL;DR
• Kind of can mean “a type of.”
• It can also mean “somewhat” informally.
• Kinds of usually refers to multiple categories.
• What kind of asks about a type or category.
• Sort of often has the same informal meaning.
• Kinda is an informal spelling of “kind of.”
What Does “Kind Of” Mean?
The quickest way to understand kind of is to look at its job. Sometimes it names a category, while sometimes it softens a statement.
If it comes before a noun, it often means type or category. If it modifies an adjective or verb, it often means somewhat.
• Category: “What kind of music do you like?”
• Category: “This is a kind of flower.”
• Degree: “I’m kind of tired.”
• Degree: “She kind of smiled.”
• Category: “That kind of problem is common.”
• Degree: “The movie was kind of strange.”
• Category: “They sell different kinds of bread.”
• Degree: “I kind of understand.”
“Kind Of” Means “Type Of”
When kind of means type of, it identifies a group with shared features. This is the literal category meaning of kind.
This use is common in questions and descriptions. It can refer to people, objects, ideas, activities, or other categories.
• “What kind of car do you drive?”
• “What kind of music does she like?”
• “This is a kind of traditional dance.”
• “That kind of behavior is unusual.”
• “We need a different kind of answer.”
• “This kind of book is popular.”
• “What kind of food do you want?”
• “They study several kinds of plants.”
“Kind Of” Means “Somewhat”
In informal English, kind of can mean somewhat, rather, or to some degree. It makes a statement less exact or less direct.
This meaning is especially common in conversation. It can modify descriptions, feelings, actions, and opinions.
• “I’m kind of tired.”
• “She looks kind of nervous.”
• “The room is kind of cold.”
• “I kind of agree.”
• “He kind of forgot.”
• “That sounds kind of strange.”
• “I kind of like this song.”
• “The ending was kind of surprising.”
How Can You Tell Which Meaning Applies?
Context usually makes the intended meaning clear. Ask one question: Is “kind of” naming a category or softening a statement?
This simple test works well for most everyday sentences. The words around the phrase usually provide the answer.
• “What kind of phone is that?” → category
• “It’s kind of expensive.” → somewhat
• “This kind of food is healthy.” → category
• “I’m kind of hungry.” → somewhat
• “That kind of person is rare.” → category
• “She kind of laughed.” → somewhat
• “What kind of movie is it?” → category
• “The movie was kind of funny.” → somewhat
“Kind Of” vs. “Kinds Of”
Use kind for one category and kinds for multiple categories. The words before the phrase help determine which form fits.
For careful writing, keep singular and plural forms consistent. This makes the sentence easier to understand.
• “This kind of book is useful.”
• “These kinds of books are useful.”
• “That kind of question is common.”
• “Those kinds of questions are common.”
• “One kind of bird lives here.”
• “Many kinds of birds live here.”
• Avoid: “These kind of books.”
• Prefer: “These kinds of books.”
What Does “What Kind Of” Mean?
What kind of asks about a type, category, or variety. It is one of the most common ways to use kind in questions.
The noun after it can be singular or uncountable. Natural speech can also use the phrase with plural nouns, especially in everyday American English.
• “What kind of music do you like?”
• “What kind of car do you want?”
• “What kind of advice do you need?”
• “What kind of job are you seeking?”
• “What kind of food is this?”
• “What kind of books do you read?”
• “What kind of movies do they watch?”
• “What kind of person is he?”
“Kind Of” vs. “Sort Of”
Kind of and sort of often have very similar meanings. Both can describe categories or soften statements.
Cambridge notes that kind of is more common in American English, while sort of is more common in British English.
• “What kind of music is this?”
• “What sort of music is this?”
• “I’m kind of tired.”
• “I’m sort of tired.”
• “She kind of understands.”
• “She sort of understands.”
• “That kind of thing happens.”
• “That sort of thing happens.”
“Kind Of” vs. “Type Of”
Kind of and type of often describe the same category. In many everyday sentences, either choice works naturally.
Type can sound slightly more technical in some contexts. Kind often sounds more conversational.
• “What kind of software do you use?”
• “What type of software do you use?”
• “This kind of problem is common.”
• “This type of problem is common.”
• “What kind of food is available?”
• “What type of food is available?”
• “She likes that kind of music.”
• “She likes that type of music.”
“Kind Of A” vs. “Kind Of”
Both structures can occur, but they do different jobs in some sentences. You should judge the whole sentence rather than treating kind of a as automatically wrong.
For category questions, what kind of + noun is especially common. Kind of a/an can naturally occur when the phrase modifies a singular noun phrase.
• “What kind of car do you want?”
• “It was kind of a surprise.”
• “That’s the kind of answer I wanted.”
• “It became kind of a habit.”
• “What kind of person is she?”
• “This is a kind of tool.”
• “That kind of problem is difficult.”
• “It was kind of an unusual situation.”
Is “Kinda” Correct English?
Kinda is an informal spelling that represents how kind of is often pronounced. It is common in casual speech and informal writing.
For formal writing, use kind of or a more precise alternative. Kinda can work when writing realistic dialogue.
• Casual: “I’m kinda tired.”
• Standard: “I’m kind of tired.”
• Formal: “I’m somewhat tired.”
• Casual: “That’s kinda funny.”
• Standard: “That’s kind of funny.”
• Formal: “That is somewhat amusing.”
• Use kinda for deliberate casual style.
• Avoid kinda in formal documents.
“Kind Of” in American English
Kind of is very common in American conversation. Speakers often use it to soften an opinion, description, or statement.
It is also completely normal when kind has its category meaning. The key is the structure around the phrase.
• “I’m kind of busy.”
• “She’s kind of worried.”
• “I kind of agree.”
• “It’s kind of unusual.”
• “What kind of class is this?”
• “What kind of music do you play?”
• “That kind of problem is common.”
• “These kinds of mistakes happen often.”
Common Mistakes With “Kind Of”
Most learner mistakes involve kind/kinds, informal spelling, or confusion between category and degree meanings.
The best correction depends on what the writer actually wants to say. Do not change kind of automatically.
• Avoid: “These kind of questions are hard.”
• Better: “These kinds of questions are hard.”
• Avoid formal kinda when precision matters.
• Use kind of for informal “somewhat.”
• Use kinds of for multiple categories.
• Use this kind of for one category.
• Use these kinds of for multiple categories.
• Check the surrounding words before correcting the phrase.
“Some Kind Of” and “That Kind Of Thing”
English has several common expressions built around kind. These expressions can be more useful than memorizing isolated definitions.
Some kind of often shows that the exact category is unknown. That kind of thing refers to examples similar to ones already mentioned.
• “There was some kind of problem.”
• “She needs some kind of help.”
• “He found some kind of tool.”
• “I heard some kind of noise.”
• “I like books, movies, and that kind of thing.”
• “We talked about sports and that kind of thing.”
• “She enjoys painting and that kind of thing.”
• “They sell snacks, drinks, and that kind of thing.”
“Kind Of” as a Standalone Response
In casual conversation, kind of can stand alone as a short answer. It usually expresses partial agreement rather than a strong yes.
This use is common because speakers sometimes want to avoid an overly direct answer. The meaning is close to “somewhat” or “in a way.”
• “Did you enjoy the movie?” — “Kind of.”
• “Do you understand?” — “Kind of.”
• “Was the test difficult?” — “Kind of.”
• “Do you agree?” — “Kind of.”
• “Are you ready?” — “Kind of.”
• “Did she apologize?” — “Kind of.”
• “Was the trip successful?” — “Kind of.”
• “Do you like the design?” — “Kind of.”
“Kind,” “Type,” and “Sort” Compared
Kind, type, and sort can all describe categories. Their basic meaning often overlaps, especially in ordinary conversation.
The choice depends on context and style. Kind is common in everyday American English, while type can sound more technical.
• Kind: “What kind of music?”
• Type: “What type of music?”
• Sort: “What sort of music?”
• Kind: common conversational choice
• Type: often useful for technical categories
• Sort: often associated with British usage
• All three can identify categories.
• Context matters more than small style differences.
Formal and Informal Uses of “Kind Of”
The phrase is natural in everyday speech. However, formal writing sometimes benefits from more precise words.
That does not make kind of universally incorrect in formal writing. The best choice depends on the sentence, audience, and purpose.
• Casual: “The plan is kind of confusing.”
• Formal: “The plan is somewhat confusing.”
• Casual: “I kind of disagree.”
• Formal: “I partly disagree.”
• Casual: “It was kind of unexpected.”
• Formal: “It was somewhat unexpected.”
• Casual: “She kind of changed her mind.”
• Formal: “She appears to have changed her mind.”
How To Choose the Right Form
Start with the meaning. If you are naming a category, kind of means type of. If you are softening a statement, it usually means somewhat.
Then check number and tone. This quick process handles most everyday questions about the phrase.
• Category → use kind of.
• Multiple categories → use kinds of.
• Category question → use what kind of.
• Informal degree → use kind of.
• Similar informal choice → use sort of.
• Technical category → type of may fit well.
• Casual speech → kinda may appear.
• Formal writing → prefer kind of or a precise alternative.
FAQs
Can “kind of” mean “somewhat”?
Yes. In informal English, kind of can mean somewhat, rather, or to some degree.
For example, “I’m kind of tired” means that you are somewhat tired.
Is “kind of” formal or informal?
Its category meaning is normal in both everyday and formal English. Its somewhat meaning is especially common in informal conversation.
Is “kinda” the same as “kind of”?
Kinda represents the informal spoken form of kind of. Use the full spelling in formal writing.
What does “that kind of thing” mean?
It refers to things similar to examples already mentioned. For example, “books, movies, and that kind of thing” means similar types of things.
What does “some kind of” mean?
It refers to an unspecified type or category. For example, “There was some kind of problem” means the speaker does not identify the exact problem.
What does “one of a kind” mean?
One of a kind means unique or unlike anything else. It is a separate expression from the informal kind of meaning “somewhat.”
Conclusion
The meaning of kind of depends mainly on context. It can identify a type or category, or it can soften a statement and mean somewhat.
When you’re unsure, ask whether you are naming a category or reducing the strength of a statement. That simple check will help you use kind of naturally and accurately.
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