Is it chilly or chili?

Chilly is an adjective that means “slightly cold” or “cool,” and chili is a noun that describes small peppers of the capsicum plant family, known for their spicy “heat.”

  • It’s really chili in here with the window open!
  • It’s really chilly in here with the window open!
  • They both come from South America, so perhaps it’s no surprise that chilly goes so well with chocolate.
  • They both come from South America, so perhaps it’s no surprise that chili goes so well with chocolate.

In American English (especially in the southern states) you will also encounter chile (but it has nothing to do with the country Chile), and in British English it is usually spelled chilli.

You can use the QuillBot Grammar Checker to ensure you have the correct spelling of chilly or chili.