# kinder

Pronunciation: US say "KYN-dur" /ˈkaɪndɚ/; UK say "KYN-duh" /ˈkaɪndə/

## Adjective

1. Comparative of kind. — comparative form of kind: more kind
   - Simple: Comparative of kind. Use this when comparing how kind two people or things are.
   - _She grew kinder as she got older._
   - _Volunteers are often kinder than they strictly need to be._

## Adverb

2. Alternative form of kinda: a nonstandard spelling that imitates casual speech. *(colloquial)* — Alternative form of kinda.
   - Simple: Alternative form of kinda, meaning "kind of" or "a little." It is a very informal, nonstandard spelling.
   - _He sounded kinder annoyed when he finally answered the phone._
   - _It was kinder dark by the time we left the house._

## Noun

Pronunciation: US say "KIN-dur" /ˈkɪndɚ/; UK say "KIN-duh" /ˈkɪndə/

3. Clipping of kindergarten. *(Philippines)* — Clipping of kindergarten.
   - Simple: Short form of kindergarten. It is the school class young children attend before first grade.
   - _The children spend most of kinder playing and singing songs._
   - _Most kids begin kinder around the age of four._
4. Clipping of kindergartner. *(colloquial)* — Clipping of kindergartner.
   - Simple: Short form of kindergartner. It means a child who is in kindergarten.
   - _A nervous kinder clung to her mother at the classroom door._
   - _The teacher walked the new kinder down to the nurse's office._
5. Children, referred to in a humorous or playful way.
   - Simple: Children, said in a funny or joking way.
   - _By bedtime the kinder had worn out every adult in the house._
   - _He herded the kinder into the car for the long drive._

## Origin

**Meaning 1** — Formed from "kind" combined with the suffix "-er".
**Meaning 2** — Formed from the phrase "kind of".
**Meaning 5** — From German "Kinder" ("children"), sometimes reaching English via Yiddish "kinder" ("children").
**Meanings 3–4** — A clipping of "kindergarten" and "kindergartner".

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/kinder (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).