kajal

IPA/ˈkʌdʒəl/
IPA/ˈkʌdʒəl/

kajal — noun

1. a dark-coloured cosmetic used especially in South Asia, applied just under the l

1.nounB1
Definition

a dark-coloured cosmetic used especially in South Asia, applied just under the lower eyelids or along the inner rim to outline and emphasise the eyes.

Example

Saira applied kajal along her lower lash line before the wedding ceremony.

apply + along + lash line

Ravindra bought a pot of black kajal from the market for his sister's makeup collection.

Common collocations
  • apply kajal
  • wear kajal
  • smudge kajal
  • kajal pencil
  • kajal stick
  • black kajal
  • line of kajal
Synonyms
  • kohl

    Kohl is a broader historical term for dark eye powder; kajal is a cream or paste version of the same tradition, used especially in South Asia.

  • eyeliner

    A general category for any eye-defining cosmetic; kajal is a specific subtype known for its creamy texture and waterline application.

Usage Note

Kajal is usually uncountable — you would say 'some kajal' or 'a stick of kajal', though 'a kajal' is occasionally used when referring to a specific pencil or pot of the product.

Common Mistakes

Kajal is the same as regular eyeliner.
Kajal is a type of eyeliner that is applied to the inner edge of the eye.
Regular eyeliner typically goes on the outer lid, while kajal is designed for the waterline (the inner rim).

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Kajal, kohl, and eyeliner all describe products used to define the eyes, but they differ in form and regional tradition. Kohl traditionally refers to a fine black powder (often antimony-based) used across the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia for centuries. Kajal is a creamier, paste-like version of the same cosmetic, native to South Asia and typically applied to the waterline rather than the outer lid. Eyeliner is the broadest term, covering any modern cosmetic — liquid, gel, pencil, or pen — used to draw lines around the eyes. In everyday usage, shoppers might say 'kajal eyeliner' to signal the traditional texture and application style. For example: 'I use a waterproof liquid eyeliner for my upper lid but switch to kajal for my lower waterline.'

kajal ↗kohl ↗eyeliner ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • apply kajal to
  • wear kajal on
  • a line of kajal

Prepositions

Etymology

SanskritHindiUrduEnglish

Kajal comes from Hindi and Urdu काजल / کاجل (kājal), which traces back to the Sanskrit word कज्जल (kajjala), meaning 'soot' or 'lamp-black'. The cosmetic tradition of applying soot-based kohl to the eyes is thousands of years old in the Indian subcontinent.