kaal
/kaːl/
The English word "bald" is translated into Dutch as kaal.
The word kaal is used to describe both a person's lack of hair and a surface that is bare or devoid of covering (e.g., a bald landscape or a bald wall).
Meaning: having little or no hair (adj)
How do you pronounce it?
/kaːl/
Did you know?
- The Dutch expression kaalplukken literally means 'to pluck bald' and is used idiomatically to describe someone being completely stripped of their possessions.
- In Dutch, calling a surface kaal is often a critique of a lack of coziness, reflecting the cultural value of 'gezelligheid' which favors warmth and decoration over bareness.
- The Dutch word kaal shares a common ancestor with the English word 'callow', which refers to a young bird that has not yet grown its feathers.
Examples in context
- Ik ben niet kaal.I'm not bald.This sentence is useful for stating that you are not kaal.Tatoeba #7694465 by MarijnKp, translation #3330666 by CK
- Tom was niet kaal.Tom wasn't bald.This sentence is useful for stating that Tom was not kaal.Tatoeba #7694464 by MarijnKp, translation #2239879 by CK
- Sami is helemaal kaal.Sami is completely bald.This sentence is useful for stating that Sami is completely kaal.Tatoeba #7694471 by MarijnKp, translation #7243493 by OsoHombre
- 40 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Lucas are looking at a photo of a man.
- EmmaIs die man op de foto kaal?Is that man in the photo bald?
- LucasNee, hij heeft alleen kort haar.No, he just has short hair.
- EmmaOh, ik dacht dat hij kaal was.Oh, I thought he was bald.
- LucasDat is niet het geval.That is not the case.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bald” translations and entries kaal, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kaal, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
