pimienta
black pepper
In Mexican Spanish "pepper" depends on what you mean. Black pepper is pimienta, a bell pepper is pimiento morrón and a hot pepper is chile.
Meaning: black pepper, bell pepper or chili (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| pimienta | black pepper |
| pimiento morrón | bell pepper, Mexico |
| chile | chili pepper, Mexico |
Ask for sal y pimienta at the table. At the market, chile covers all hot peppers, with names such as chile jalapeño, chile serrano and chile poblano.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico pimiento morrón or just morrón is the usual name for the sweet bell pepper. In Spain it is simply pimiento.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use pimienta for hot peppers. In Mexico a spicy dish is picante and the heat comes from chile.
Did you know?
- Mexico grows and eats a huge range of chilies, and the same chili often has a different name when it is dried.
Examples in context
- Pásame la sal y la pimienta.Pass me the salt and the pepper.
- Quiero un taco con chile.I want a taco with chili.
- Compré pimientos morrones para el guisado.I bought bell peppers for the stew.
Example conversation
Elena buys vegetables from Don Chuy at a market stall in Oaxaca.
- ElenaBuenos días, ¿a cómo están los morrones?Good morning, how much are the bell peppers?
- Don ChuyA veinte el kilo, güerita.Twenty a kilo, miss.
- ElenaDeme un kilo y unos chiles serranos.Give me a kilo and some serrano chilies.
