ケール
kēru[ke̞ːɾɯ̟]
The Japanese word for kale is ケール (kēru). Wiktionary also lists 緑葉甘藍 (ryokuyō kanran) and 羽衣甘藍 (hagoromo kanran).
Meaning: edible plant: Brassica oleracea acephala (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ケール | kēru | [ke̞ːɾɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 緑葉甘藍 | ryokuyō kanran | |
| 羽衣甘藍 | hagoromo kanran |
The word refers to the edible plant Brassica oleracea acephala.
Which one should you use?
ケール is the most common way to refer to kale in daily life and on food packaging. In contrast, 緑葉甘藍 is a technical or botanical term used in scientific or formal agricultural contexts. 羽衣甘藍 is a more poetic or formal name often found in botanical literature.
How do you pronounce it?
kēru
Did you know?
- The name 羽衣甘藍 contains the word 羽衣 (hagoromo), which refers to the legendary feather cloak worn by celestial maidens in Japanese folklore. This gives the plant a mythical, ethereal quality in its formal name.
- The term 羽衣甘藍 uses the kanji 藍 for indigo, which is the same root used for the traditional Japanese deep blue dye.
- In some Japanese culinary contexts, kale is treated as a garnish or a medicinal herb rather than a main vegetable side dish.
Examples in context
- ケールは体にいいです。kēru wa karada ni ii desu.Kale is good for your health.
- スーパーでケールを買いました。sūpā de kēru o kaimashita.I bought some kale at the supermarket.
- ケールのサラダを食べますか？kēru no sarada o tabemasu ka?Will you eat a kale salad?
Example conversation
A man and a woman are discussing a healthy breakfast.
- 陽葵 Himari蓮、ケールのスムージーを作るね。Ren, kēru no sumūjī o tsukuru ne.Ren, I'm making a kale smoothie.
- 蓮 Ren美味しそうだね、陽葵。Oishisō dane, Himari.That looks delicious, Himari.
- 陽葵 Himari野菜がたくさん入っているよ。Yasai ga takusan haitte iru yo.It has a lot of vegetables in it.
- 蓮 Ren体に良さそうだ。Karada ni yosasō da.It looks good for the body.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “kale” translations and entries ケール, 羽衣甘藍, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
