Child vs His kid

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Child

Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun

His kid

Top 1,000 (very common)
 ChildHis kid
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/tʃaɪld/","/ˈtʃɪldrən/"]/🇺🇸 /["/tʃaɪld/","/ˈtʃɪldrən/"]/🇬🇧 //hɪz kɪd//🇺🇸 //hɪz kɪd//
MeaningA young human who is not yet an adult.His child.
ExampleThe child played happily in the park.He took his kid to the amusement park.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR levelA1-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationslittle, small, young, have, bear, give birth to, be born, develop, grow, actor, bride, soldier, with child, little, small, young, have, bear, give birth to, be born, develop, grow, actor, bride, soldier, with childhis kid's birthday, take his kid, play with his kid, teach his kid, support his kid
Antonymsadult, grown-up-
Common mistakesConfused with 'children' — remember 'child' is singular., Using 'child' to refer to pets or animals., Mispronouncing it as 'chaild' instead of 'child'.Using 'kids' as singular instead of 'kid'., Confusing 'kid' with 'child' in formal writing., Overusing 'his kid' when it's clear a parent is being referred to.
Usage notesCommonly used to refer to anyone under the age of 18. It is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, but can sound out of place in discussions about adults or professional settings.Used informally to refer to someone's child. 'Kid' is a casual term, appropriate in friendly settings but not in formal contexts.

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Child
His kid

Frequently asked questions: Child vs His kid

What's the difference between Child and His kid?

Child: A young human who is not yet an adult. His kid: His child.

Can you show an example of each?

Child: The child played happily in the park. His kid: He took his kid to the amusement park.

Can I use Child and His kid interchangeably?

Not always. Child and His kid are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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