kilo

Everyday

1. A kilo is short for a kilogram, a unit of mass equal to a thousand grams. tree →
2. The prefix kilo- means a thousand, as in kilometre and kilowatt. tree →
3. (informal) Sometimes short for kilometre. tree →

In the lessons

Used every day in shops, cooking and maths. Phrases: «a kilo of apples», «per kilo», «price per kilo». In maths, convert between grams and kilos.

Examples

• Mum bought a kilo of potatoes. tree →
• Apples cost two pounds a kilo. tree →
• A kilo is a thousand grams. tree →
• The baby weighs four kilos. tree →
• I ran five kilos — I mean kilometres! tree →
• Bananas are sold by the kilo. tree →

Note

Plural: kilos. Symbol kg for kilogram. 1 kg = 1 000 g; 2.5 kg = 2 500 g; 750 g = 0.75 kg. US people often use pounds: 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds.