This next word in our series dedicated to building your confidence in pronouncing notoriously tricky culinary words takes a turn toward the smokey, earthy, and spicy—say hello to the chipotle pepper! The ingredient is primarily used in Mexican cuisine and dishes inspired by the Mexican culinary tradition, but it’s grown to be popular in dishes across the United States. If you’re looking to add rich, deep flavor—and a bit of heat— to a dish, chipotle pepper is a great ingredient to incorporate.
But as popular as chipotle peppers have become in the mainstream world of food—a large national food chain is even named after them—people continue to struggle with pronouncing the word. In order to better understand the chipotle pepper and determined exactly how we’re meant to say its name, let’s dig a little deeper into its history and etymology. Read on to learn the definitive pronunciation of chipotle.
Chipotle’s Origin Story and Etymology
The chipotle pepper, which is actually just a large jalapeño that’s been dried and then smoked, has a long history. Originating in the northernmost portion of what is now Mexico City, the chipotle pepper is believed to predate the Aztec civilization in this region. The method of smoking the peppers was an innovative solution to the issue of rot—since the jalapeño has a thick skin and flesh relative to others peppers, standard drying methods didn’t dry them thoroughly enough, and many peppers were wasted as a result. The additional step of smoking ensured the peppers were dried all the way through, but they also imparted a new smokey flavor to the product.
The word chipotle comes from the Nahuatl, a group of indigenous people in the southern Mexico and Central America which included the Aztecs that came to inhabit the pepper’s native region. It’s a compound of the words chilli (chili pepper) and poctli (smoke).
Common Chipotle Pronunciations, and Which is Correct
So, how is chipotle actually pronounced? While it notoriously gives people trouble, briefly considering the phonetics of the Spanish language and considering the letters should help you arrive at the correct pronunciation clearly enough.
Said in Mexican Spanish, chipotle is pronounced ‘chee-POAT-leh.’ The pronunciation is somewhat anglicized in American English, however—’chi-POAT-lay.’
The word is so frequently mispronounced, especially by older generations, that Gen Z have made asking baby boomers to say it a viral TikTok trend this year. The most common mispronunciations include, but are not limited to:
- Chi-po-til
- Chip-ol-te
- Chip-tole-ee
- Chil-op-le
Final Thoughts
Now that you’re pronouncing chipotle correctly, you’re ready to visit your local grocery store to ask for help finding this ingredient on the shelf, or ask Siri, Alexa, or the voice assistant of your preference for help finding a good recipe using chipotle peppers to try your hand at. If you’re using dried chipotle peppers, this Mexican chipotle chicken soup might be a nice introduction. If you’re using a can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce instead, try tackling one of these great recipes! Feeling extra adventurous? Consider making a chipotle-infused dessert! With this delicious and versatile ingredient, you can’t go wrong.