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Glite Dictionary
sorta kinda

sorta kinda

1 9.3
Shows that you are a little unsure or not fully certain
  • idiom
  • Slang
translation icon : más o menos
  • It's sorta kinda hard to explain.

Examples

  • She was sorta kinda annoyed by his comments, though she tried not to show it.

  • I'm feeling sorta kinda tired today.

  • I’m sorta kinda excited about the new project, but I’m also a little nervous.

  • The movie was sorta kinda funny, but not as good as I expected.

  • I'm sorta kinda busy with work this week, so I might not join you for dinner.

  • Her explanation was sorta kinda confusing, but I think I understood the main point.

  • I'm sorta kinda excited for the trip, even though I'm also a bit nervous about flying.

Synonyms

kind of
vssorta kinda
  • Informal
∞ 1.6

To a small or medium degree

is similar but used more casually to show vagueness
a little
vssorta kinda
∞ 1.0

A small amount, not very much

is more general informal marker of approximate degree than measurement
sort of
vssorta kinda
  • Informal
∞ 2.1

To some degree but not completely

focuses on informal approximate degree rather than precise measurement
a bit
vssorta kinda
∞ 1.0

To a small degree or amount

is broader informal phrasing for uncertain or approximate degree
pretty much
vssorta kinda
  • Informal
∞ 3.0

Almost completely but not quite

expresses milder uncertainty and smaller degree than this stronger nearly case
slightly
vssorta kinda
885 1.0

A little, not very much

is more casual and less precise than this measured smallness
somewhat
vssorta kinda
816 2.0

To a small degree

is informal and used as a spoken approximate expression
kinda
vssorta kinda
  • Informal
540 8.5

To a small degree

is the general informal expression indicating an uncertain or approximate degree
roughly
vssorta kinda
373 1.6

About a number or amount that is not exact

is informal and refers to uncertain degree not numeric approximation

Antonyms

exactly
∞ 1.0

In a completely correct way

definitely
∞ 1.0

To say that something is true without any doubt

How Approximate

quite
∞ 1.0
rather
∞ 1.0
sorta kinda
  • Slang
1 9.3
somewhat
816 2.0
a little
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

sorta kinda positive

Morphology

sorta + kinda

The meaning 'somewhat/rather' is directly and predictably built from two degree hedges: 'sorta' (sort of) and 'kinda' (kind of); their combination simply reinforces an approximate or uncertain degree. This is a compositional, informal pattern following normal English hedging, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent forms would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Sorta kinda comes from everyday speech where people shorten 'sort of' and 'kind of' to sorta and kinda and then say both together—often while shrugging—to show they are unsure. So, sorta kinda means 'somewhat' or 'rather', not fully or clearly.