chile
/ˈtʃiːli/
noun
Origin
Nahuatl
chīlli — chili pepper
Overview
Meaning Now
- A spicy fruit from plants of the genus Capsicum, used widely in cooking.
- A member of the Capsicum genus.
Language path
Indigenous American → Spanish → English
Earliest form
chili
Earliest period
Post-Columbian era
Journey
The word entered European languages following the Spanish conquest of the Americas, where the Capsicum plants were native. While many associate the word with the country Chile, the etymological link between the country name and the pepper is debated; many linguists suggest the country name comes from a Mapudungun word meaning 'where the land ends', whereas the pepper comes from Nahuatl.
Evolution
- Nahuatl period
chīlli
“chili pepper”
Central Mexican origin
- Spanish colonial period
chile
“chili pepper”
Adaptation into Spanish phonology
- Modern English
chili / chile
“spicy pepper or a stew made with them”
Variation in spelling between 'chile' (the fruit) and 'chili' (the stew or common spelling)
Connections
Word parts
chile
root
chili pepper
Related across languages
Spanish
chili pepper
Explore next
Related to chile
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.