2 syllables: chi, li. Stress on chi.
CHIL-ee
/ˈtʃɪli/
chili is pronounced CHIL-ee (/ˈtʃɪli/). It has two syllables (chi-li), with the stress on "chi". Chili refers to a hot pepper or a spicy dish made with peppers, often with meat, tomatoes, and beans. It can also denote the pepper itself in culinary contexts. The term is commonly used in American English and varies in pronunciation depending on regional preferences. The word balances a crisp initial consonant with a rounded vowel and a final syllable that mirrors common American pepper terminology.
Chili refers to a hot pepper or a spicy dish made with peppers, often with meat, tomatoes, and beans. It can also denote the pepper itself in culinary contexts. The term is commonly used in American English and varies in pronunciation depending on regional preferences. The word balances a crisp initial consonant with a rounded vowel and a final syllable that mirrors common American pepper terminology.
"I added chopped chili to the sauce for extra heat."
"Chili con carne is a staple at our Sunday dinners."
"The chili peppers in the market were labeled as hot and mild."
In standard American and UK English, chili is pronounced with two syllables: /ˈtʃɪ.li/. Stress on the first syllable, with a short, lax /ɪ/ as in sit, followed by a clear /l/ and a light, unstressed second syllable. For audio reference, listen to mainstream dictionaries or Forvo entries for chili; you’ll hear the crisp onset /tʃ/ (as in chair) and a lisp-free /l/ transition into /i/ in the second syllable.
Common errors include flattening the second syllable as /i:/ (chili as /ˈtʃiːli/) and conflating the first syllable with the adjective ‘chilly’ (/ˈtʃɪli/ vs /ˈtʃɪli/). Corrective tips: keep the first syllable short /ɪ/ and avoid vowel lengthening; ensure the /tʃ/ is released clearly, and keep the second syllable unstressed with a quick, light /li/ rather than a heavy, drawn-out /liː/. Practicing with minimal pairs chili/chilly helps solidify the distinction.
In US English, /ˈtʃɪli/ with a non-rhotic preference in some regions and a crisp /l/ is common; UK English generally keeps /ˈtʃɪli/ as well, with slight variation in vowel quality and rhoticity depending on region. Australian English tends to maintain /ˈtʃɪli/ but may exhibit a more centralized /ɪ/ or slightly broader vowel due to Australian Vowel Shift. Across all, the key is two-syllable structure and initial /tʃ/ with a light second syllable; dialectal vowel tuning may shift the nucleus slightly but not the syllable count.
The challenge lies in maintaining a crisp onset /tʃ/ and a short, clipped first vowel /ɪ/ while keeping the second syllable unstressed and quick: /ˈtʃɪ.li/. Many learners lengthen the second vowel or insert an unnecessary schwa, turning it into /ˈtʃɪəli/ or /ˈtʃɪl.i/. Focus on syllable timing, avoid vowel pre-extension, and practice with tempo, starting slow and narrowing the gap between syllables to a near-staccato /li/ to preserve the two-syllable rhythm.
Chili often appears in recipes, menus, and spice-check labels, so people search for both chili and chilli. The two-letter difference affects SEO but not pronunciation. For speakers, confirm two syllables with /ˈtʃɪ.li/. A unique aspect is distinguishing from ‘chilly’ (/ˈtʃɪli/) in casual speech; awareness of spelling variants helps ensure correct, context-appropriate use when searching for pepper vs. weather-related terms.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "chili"!
The word chili/chile/chilli originates from the Nahuatl word chilli, used by the Aztecs to describe peppers. Spanish explorers encountered the pepper in the Americas and adopted the term chile/chile, with the double-l-l variant chilli appearing in English-speaking regions like the United States and the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The pronunciation shifted in American English to /ˈtʃɪli/ or /ˈtʃɪli/ depending on locale, with some dialects emphasizing the first syllable. The term became associated both with the pepper and with dishes featuring peppers in spicy preparations. In British usage, chilli often carries the same two-syllable structure but may be pronounced as /ˈtʃɪl.i/ or /ˈtʃɪli/, reflecting broader vowel and syllabic treatment. The spelling variant chilli is now common in British and Commonwealth contexts for the pepper, chilli powder, and dishes, while chili is widely used in American English for both pepper and dish names. The global diffusion of chili-based cuisines (e.g., chili con carne) reinforced the two-syllable, two-morpheme pattern across English-speaking communities, contributing to stable pronunciation in many regional varieties while allowing local nuance.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "chili" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "chili" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "chili" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "chili"
-lly sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
