chipotle

Where does the word "chipotle" come from? It comes from Nahuatl chilpoctli, passing through Spanish before entering English (1900s-2000s).

Chipotle’s story begins in Nahuatl: chilpoctli meant “smoked chili pepper.” Combining "chilli" (chili) and "poctli" (smoke). By 1500s-1600s, the word had taken hold in Spanish as chipotle. Nahuatl 'smoked chilli'; the smoking method preserves the peppers. It reached English by 1900s-2000s as chipotle. Popularized in the US by Tex-Mex food and the Chipotle restaurant chain, founded in 1993. Today, chipotle means a smoked and dried jalapeño chili pepper, often used in sauces.

1. Stage 1 · Nahuatl · pre-1500s chilpoctli "smoked chili pepper", combining "chilli" (chili) and "poctli" (smoke).
2. Stage 2 · Spanish · 1500s-1600s chipotle "a smoked jalapeño pepper", Nahuatl 'smoked chilli'; the smoking method preserves the peppers.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1900s-2000s chipotle "a smoked and dried jalapeño pepper", popularized in the US by Tex-Mex food and the Chipotle restaurant chain, founded in 1993.