Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| chile | /ˈt͡ʃile/ | Central America, Mexico, Philippines, masculine |
| ají | /aˈxi/ | South America, masculine |
| pimiento | /piˈmjento/ | masculine |
The term refers to the spicy fresh or dried fruit of a capsicum plant. Note that while English speakers often use 'chili' to refer to a spicy stew, in Spanish, the word refers specifically to the fruit of the plant itself.
Which one should you use?
The word used depends heavily on the region. chile is common in Mexico, Central America and the Philippines. In many South American countries like Peru, Chile and Argentina, ají is the standard term. In Spain, pimiento is used to describe various peppers, including both sweet bell peppers and spicy varieties.
Is it said differently in some regions?
chile is the term used in Mexico, Central America and the Philippines. In some parts of Mexico, chile or the informal chilito can specifically refer to the pasilla chili pepper. ají is the standard term in South American countries such as Peru, Chile and Argentina. In Spain, pimiento is the common term for both sweet and spicy peppers.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of chile is chiles, and the plural form of ají is ajíes. All forms provided are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtʃile/
Did you know?
- While chile is standard in Mexico, the Philippines also uses chile due to the historical influence of the Spanish Empire in Asia.
- The Spanish word pimiento is actually a linguistic cousin to the English word 'pigment', both descending from the Latin 'pigmentum'.
- If you are in Mexico and someone offers you a chilito, they might be referring to a specific variety of dried pepper rather than just a 'little chili'.
Examples in context
- El chile me quemó la lengua.The chili burnt my tongue.This sentence is useful for describing how a chile caused a physical sensation.Tatoeba #4762577 by DarkHollow, translation #38861 by CK
- Te encanta el chile, ¿verdad?You love chili, don't you?This sentence is useful for confirming someone's preference for chile.Tatoeba #3666608 by Seael, translation #2867061 by Amastan
- Es la primera vez que le echo ají al pan.This is the first time I've ever spread chili on bread.This sentence is useful for describing the action of adding ají to food.Tatoeba #1726765 by marcelostockle, translation #1725113 by Amastan
- En esta receta de sopa, necesitarás agregar dos pimientos picantes.In this soup recipe, you'll need to add two hot chili peppers.
- Me encanta la comida picante, así que siempre le agrego ají a mis platos.I love spicy food, so I always add ají to my dishes.
- En Chile, es habitual encontrar chile en diversos platos tradicionales.In Chile, it's common to find chile in various traditional dishes.
- Los pintxos españoles suelen llevar guindilla para darles un toque de picante.Spanish pintxos often include guindilla to give them a spicy touch.
- En México, no falta un chilito en cualquier guiso o salsa tradicional.In Mexico, a little chili is always present in any traditional stew or sauce.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are cooking dinner in their kitchen.
- ElenaJavier, ¿tienes el chile para la salsa?Javier, do you have the chili for the sauce?
- JavierSí, lo tengo aquí en la mesa.Yes, I have it here on the table.
- ElenaPerfecto, este chile se ve muy fresco.Perfect, this chili looks very fresh.
- JavierEspero que no sea demasiado picante.I hope it is not too spicy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chili” translations and entries chile, ají, pimiento, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ají, chile, pimiento, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
