kale
B2Informal (as food), Slang (as money)
Definition
Meaning
A hardy type of cabbage with dark green, curly leaves, eaten as a vegetable.
Informal slang for money (chiefly US, somewhat dated).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily refers to the leafy green vegetable. The 'money' meaning is niche, informal, and less common now.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The vegetable meaning is identical. The slang for 'money' is almost exclusively American, though now largely historical or regional.
Connotations
As a food: 'healthy', 'superfood', 'robust'. As money: 'cash' (rustic or old-fashioned connotation).
Frequency
The vegetable term is common in both dialects. The 'money' slang is very low-frequency in the UK and declining in the US.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
grow kaleeat kalechop kalewash kalemassage kale (cooking technique)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “not a sausage (no kale) (dated slang for 'no money')”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly in the context of fresh produce markets or health food retail.
Academic
In botanical, nutritional, or agricultural texts.
Everyday
Very common in discussions about cooking, diet, and healthy eating.
Technical
Used in horticulture (e.g., 'Brassica oleracea var. sabellica') and nutritional science.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- A very kale-heavy diet.
American English
- The menu has a kale-centric focus.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I bought some kale at the market.
- Kale is a green vegetable.
- We added chopped kale to the soup for extra flavour.
- Do you prefer spinach or kale in your smoothie?
- Despite its slightly bitter taste, kale is packed with essential vitamins and minerals.
- Farmers often grow kale in the cooler months as it's frost-resistant.
- The recent culinary trend has transformed kale from a humble garnish into a celebrated superfood.
- He quipped that his investment portfolio needed more greenbacks, not just green kale.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
KALE sounds like 'pail'. Imagine a pail full of dark green, curly kale leaves.
Conceptual Metaphor
HEALTH IS KALE (e.g., 'That diet is pure kale.'). MONEY IS KALE (in slang).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'клей' (glue) due to phonetic similarity. The Russian equivalent is 'кале' or 'кейл', or more generically 'листовая капуста'.
Common Mistakes
- Spelling: 'kail' or 'cale'. Pronunciation: /kæl/ instead of /keɪl/. Using 'kale' as a count noun incorrectly (e.g., 'two kales' instead of 'two leaves/bunches of kale').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'kale' used as slang?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While both are leafy greens, they are from different plant families. Kale has a more robust texture and a slightly more bitter, earthy flavour than spinach.
Massaging raw kale with a bit of oil or lemon juice helps break down its tough cellulose structure, making it softer, less bitter, and easier to digest.
Most common varieties are dark green, but some, like 'Red Russian' kale, have purple-tinged stems and leaves. 'Lacinato' or 'dinosaur' kale is a dark blue-green colour.
It is pronounced like 'kayl' (/keɪl/), rhyming with 'pale' or 'mail'.