Chili or Chilli | Definition & Examples
How to spell chili can be a bit of a hot topic! There are two popular options, chili (the most common spelling in American English) and chilli (mainly found in British English, including most Commonwealth countries apart from Canada). This applies equally to the spicy pepper and, for example, a dish like chilli/chili con carne.
The first time my brother saw a whole raw chilli/chili pepper for sale, he bought it and took a bite as he walked home. It wasn’t a mistake he would make again!
Although popular in the US, the chilli/chili dog has never caught on in the UK.
The term “chili peppers” is sometimes used to refer generically to any number of small red or green spicy peppers. However, it is more common in the US to refer to these peppers by their specific names (e.g., “jalapeño,” “cayenne,” “poblano”).
In British English, chilli is commonly used on its own to refer to a small spicy pepper (e.g., “Would you pick up a chilli at the store?”). This use is not common in American English.
Chili vs chile
Chili/chile is the noun referring to the berry-fruit plants (or more typically, the berries themselves) from the capsicum family known for their fiery, spicy heat. In most of the US and Canada, it is usually spelled chili, although in the southern US, it is often spelled chile.
In British English, the generally accepted spelling is chilli.
Despite sometimes being spelled the same, the name chili/chile has nothing to do with the South American country Chile.
Although for many British people, chilies/chiles are associated with Indian cuisine, the plants come from South America and were only introduced to Asia in the 16th century.
Main differences between American and British English
American and British English are very similar, but there are a few main differences in spelling. Five important differences are:
| Difference | Rule | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -or vs -our | In American English, many Latin-derived words end in -or. | Behavior or behaviour Labor or labour Favor or favour Favorite or favourite Color or colour Honor or honour |
| In British English, these same words end in -our. | ||
| -er vs -re | In American English, some French, Latin, or Greek words end in -er. | Theater or theatre Center or centre Meter or metre Liter or litre Saber or sabre Fiber or fibre |
| In British English, these same words end in -re. | ||
| -ize vs -ise | In American English, many Greek-derived words end in -yze or -ize. | Realize or realise Recognize or recognise Analyze or analyse Organize or organise Minimize or minimise Finalize or finalise |
| In British English, these words end in -yse or -ise. | ||
| -ed vs -t | In American English, most verbs are regular and form their past tense with the suffix -ed. | Learned or learnt Burned or burnt Kneeled or knelt Dreamed or dream Smelled or smelt Spelled or spelt |
| In British English, some of these verbs are irregular and form their past tense with the suffix -t. | ||
| Single vs double consonant | In American English, many words are spelled with a single consonant. | Modeling or modelling Traveling or travelling Canceled or cancelled Labeled or labelled Buses or busses Focused or focussed |
| In British English, these same words are often spelled with a double consonant. |
Frequently asked questions about chili or chilli
- Is it chilly or chili?
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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.
- Is it chilis or chilies?
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The plural of chili is chilies. Chili is the most common spelling in American English for the spicy small peppers of the capsicum family. It is also spelled chile (plural chiles) in some areas of the US, and in British English the correct spelling is chilli (plural chillies).
The QuillBot Grammar Checker has selectable language regions to help make sure you always have the correct spelling of chilies or chillies.
