# Chile

/ˈtʃɪɫi/ (US) · /tʃˈɪli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/chile
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the country

noun · CEFR A2

a long, narrow country on the west coast of South America.

For teachers: a sovereign state in western South America, bordered by the Andes to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

- Many people visit Chile to see the beautiful mountains and glaciers.
- The diplomatic mission from Chile arrived in Geneva to discuss new trade agreements regarding copper exports.

### 2. spicy pepper

noun · CEFR B1 · American English · Dialect

a small, spicy vegetable used to make food hot.

For teachers: a regional spelling variant of 'chili', referring to the spicy fruit of plants in the genus Capsicum.

- She added a chopped green chile to the salsa for extra heat.
- The regional cuisine of New Mexico is famous for its specific varieties of roasted green chile.

Usage: This spelling is particularly common in the Southwestern United States.

### 3. child

noun · CEFR C2 · American English · Dialect · Informal

a way of saying 'child' in some parts of the United States.

For teachers: a pronunciation spelling of 'child', characteristic of Southern American English and African-American Vernacular English.

- Now listen here, chile, you need to be careful.
- The author used the spelling 'chile' in the dialogue to capture the specific cadence of the character's Southern dialect.

Teaching tip: Learners should recognize this in literature or informal speech but avoid using it in their own writing unless mimicking a specific dialect.

## Examples

- Chile is famous for its beautiful mountains and coastlines.
- Many travelers visit Chile to explore the Atacama Desert in the north and the glaciers in the south.
- The unique geography of Chile, stretching over four thousand kilometers from north to south, creates a diverse range of climates from arid desert to alpine tundras and glaciers.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.