kale

American  

[keyl] / keɪl /

Or kail

noun

1. Also called borecole.  a cabbagelike cultivated plant, Brassica oleracea acephala, of the mustard family, having curled or wrinkled leaves: used as a vegetable.

2. Scot. cabbage.

3. Slang. money.

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kale ¹ British  

/ keɪl /

noun

1. a cultivated variety of cabbage, Brassica oleracea acephala, with crinkled leaves: used as a potherb See also collard

2. a cabbage

3. slang money

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kale ² British  

/ keɪl /

noun

1. dialect a queue

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Etymology

Origin of kale

1250–1300; Middle English cale, northern variant of cole

Explanation

Kale is a green leafy vegetable that's a close relative of cabbage and broccoli. Kale is tough and bitter when raw, but it can be yummy when you prepare it the right way. If you're a fan of green smoothies, there's almost certainly some kale in them. Marinating kale, roasting it with olive oil and salt, and throwing it in a stir fry are all great ways to make kale tasty. Long ago, kale was also a slang term for "money," as in, "Hand over the kale, sweetheart, and nobody gets hurt." Kale comes from a Scottish variation on cole, which meant "cabbage" in Middle English.

Example Sentences

They make an incredible kale salad and I love the San Gennaro pizza.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

When her first order, a kale and brussels sprout salad, arrived, she said she was shocked at how big it was.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

An hour's drive north of New York City, the greenhouses at Cropsey Farm are seeing their first leaves of kale, spinach and arugula emerge.

From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026

It is naturally present in foods such as orange peppers, spinach, and kale.

From Science Daily • Apr. 10, 2026

There’s a bag of kale sitting on a cutting board and a box of croutons on the countertop.

From "Piecing Me Together" by Renée Watson