# kale

> English word · Noun · IPA /keɪl/ · frequency rank #17,652

## Definitions
1. An edible plant, similar to cabbage, with curled leaves that do not form a dense head (Brassica oleracea var. acephala)
2. Any of several cabbage-like food plants that are kinds of Brassica oleracea.
3. Broth containing kale as a chief ingredient.
4. Money.

## Etymology
From Northern Middle English cale, cal (Southern col), from Old English cāl, cāul, cāwel, from Latin caulis. Compare Icelandic kál (“cabbage”), German Kohl (“cabbage”). Doublet of caulis, cole, and gobi.

## Easily confused with
- **Ke** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kale-vs-ke)
- **KL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kale-vs-kl)
- **kay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kale-vs-kay)
- **kat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kale-vs-kat)
- **kan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kale-vs-kan)
- **kam** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kale-vs-kam)
- **kee** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kale-vs-kee)
- **kar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kale-vs-kar)
- **KDE** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kale-vs-kde)
- **KLM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kale-vs-klm)
- **kill** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kale-vs-kill)
- **Kate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kale-vs-kate)
- **knee** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kale-vs-knee)
- **Kyle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kale-vs-kyle)
- **Karl** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kale-vs-karl)
- **Kane** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kale-vs-kane)
- **Katy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kale-vs-katy)
- **Kobe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kale-vs-kobe)
- **kang** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kale-vs-kang)
- **kara** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kale-vs-kara)

## Common misspellings (5)
`akle`, `kael`, `kalle`, `kkale`, `klae`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/kale