chile
everyday, Mexico
In Mexico a chilli is chile, spelled with one l and ending in -e. Picante means hot or spicy, and a hot sauce is salsa picante. It is also called chile picante.
Meaning: a hot pepper (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| chile | everyday, Mexico |
| chile picante | hot |
| picante | spicy |
Mexican food names many kinds of chile, such as jalapeño, serrano, habanero and poblano. You can ask ¿Pica? to find out if a dish is spicy.
Which one should you use?
The pepper is chile, while a spicy dish of meat and beans in the US is "chili". In Mexico chile means the pepper, and dishes use other names.
Did you know?
- The English word "chili" comes from Nahuatl chilli through Spanish.
Examples in context
- Este chile pica mucho.This chilli is very hot.
- ¿Quiere salsa picante?Do you want hot sauce?
- Me gustan los chiles rellenos.I like stuffed peppers.
Example conversation
Tania asks the cook at a taco stand in Puebla about the salsa.
- Tania¿Esta salsa pica?Is this salsa hot?
- TaqueroPoquito, es de chile de árbol.A little, it is made with chile de árbol.
- TaniaEntonces me da un poquito.Then give me a little.
