Hatch Chile Terminology Guide

If you've ever searched for "hatch chili peppers," "green chilli," or "hatch pepper," you're not alone. The internet is filled with conflicting spellings and terminology for New Mexico's most famous crop. But here's something that might surprise you: those search terms would get you strange looks in the Hatch Valley.

As a 5th-generation descendant of Joseph Franzoy—the first commercial chile farmer in Hatch—and a current board member of the Hatch Chile Association, I've spent my entire life surrounded by the language and culture of New Mexican chile. This guide will teach you the authentic terminology we use in the industry, explain the fascinating history behind the spelling debates, and help you speak about Hatch chile like a true New Mexican.

The History of "Chile" vs "Chili" vs "Chilli" Spelling

The great spelling debate has divided kitchens, confused grocery shoppers, and sparked more arguments than whether to put beans in chili con carne. But unlike that debate (we'll get to it), the spelling question has a definitive answer—at least for New Mexicans.

Nahuatl Origins: Where the Word Began

Every version of this word traces back to the same source: the Classical Nahuatl word chīlli (pronounced "CHEE-lee"), the language of the Aztec people of central Mexico. The Aztecs cultivated chile peppers for thousands of years before Spanish colonizers arrived, and their word for this fiery fruit entered the global vocabulary through the Columbian Exchange.

The Congressional Record: Senator Domenici's Famous Speech

In 1983, New Mexico's longtime Senator Pete Domenici took to the floor of the United States Senate to set the record straight. His speech, entered into the Congressional Record, remains the most authoritative—and entertaining—defense of New Mexican chile spelling ever delivered.

Senator Domenici didn't stop there. He drew a sharp distinction between New Mexican chile and what he called "that inedible mixture of watery tomato soup, dried gristle, half-cooked kidney beans, and a myriad of silly ingredients that is passed off as food in Texas and Oklahoma."

His point was clear: chile (with an E) is the pepper itself—the magnificent fruit we grow here in the Hatch Valley. Chili (with an I) is the dish—the meat stew that uses chile as one of many ingredients.

Regional Spelling Differences Around the World

The spelling you use often reveals where you're from—or at least where your culinary influences lie. Here's how different regions typically spell it:

For those of us in the chile industry, using the correct spelling isn't just about grammar—it's about cultural identity and authenticity. When you see a product labeled "Hatch Chili Peppers," you can be fairly certain it wasn't produced by someone with deep roots in New Mexican agriculture.

How to Pronounce "Chile" Correctly

Here's where it gets interesting. Even though we spell it differently, the pronunciation in New Mexico is closer to the original Spanish than you might expect:

That said, you'll hear plenty of New Mexicans say "CHILL-ee" in casual conversation—the anglicized pronunciation has become common even among locals. What matters more than pronunciation is the spelling and, as we'll discuss next, avoiding the word "pepper" entirely.

Continue to Part 2: Why We Don't Say "Pepper" & Industry Terminology

← Back to Part 1: Chile vs Chili Spelling

Why New Mexicans Don't Say "Pepper"

Walk into any grocery store, farmers market, or restaurant in Hatch, Las Cruces, or Albuquerque and ask for "hatch chile peppers" or "green chili peppers"—you'll probably get what you're looking for, but you'll also mark yourself as an outsider. It's not that anyone will correct you (New Mexicans are famously hospitable), but you'll notice that no local ever uses that terminology.

The Reason: Chile Stands Alone

In New Mexican culture and cuisine, chile isn't just another variety of pepper—it's the pepper. It's so central to our identity that the word itself carries all the meaning we need. When a New Mexican says "chile," everyone knows exactly what they're talking about: the long green pods we roast in late summer, the red ristras hanging from porches, the sauce smothered over enchiladas when you answer "Christmas."

Adding "pepper" to the end is redundant—like saying "pizza pie" or "ATM machine." Chile is the pepper.

When "Pepper" Does Appear

There are a few contexts where you might hear "pepper" in New Mexico:

• Scientific/botanical contexts: The Chile Pepper Institute at NMSU uses "pepper" in formal research because "chile" is technically a common name, not a botanical term. But even they use "chile" in most communications.
• Distinguishing from other peppers: If someone is comparing chile to bell peppers, jalapeños, or other varieties, they might say "chile peppers" for clarity.
• Marketing to outside audiences: Some businesses add "peppers" to product names because they know customers from other states search for that term.

Industry Terminology: What Farmers & Producers Actually Say

After five generations in the chile business, I've learned that the terminology we use in the fields and processing facilities differs from what you'll see on consumer packaging. Here's a glossary of terms you'll hear around our farms and throughout the Hatch Valley:

What the Industry Never Says

Spend time around chile farmers, processors, and longtime New Mexicans, and you'll notice certain terms are conspicuously absent:

• "Hatch peppers" — Hatch chile, yes. Hatch peppers, never.
• "Green chili peppers" — Just "green chile" or just "chile."
• "Hatch chili pepper" — This triple-wrong construction (chili with I, plus "pepper") doesn't exist in local vocabulary.
• "Chiles" (with an S) — While grammatically correct as a plural, locals often use "chile" for both singular and plural. "I bought a lot of chile" not "I bought a lot of chiles."
• "Hot peppers" — Too generic. What kind? Chile? Jalapeño? Serrano? We specify.

Common Terminology Mistakes to Avoid

Whether you're writing about Hatch chile, ordering in a New Mexico restaurant, or just trying to sound like you know what you're talking about, here are the most common terminology mistakes and how to fix them:

Quick Reference: Terminology by Context

Continue to Part 3: Complete Glossary & Frequently Asked Questions

← Back to Part 2: Why We Don't Say "Pepper"

Complete Hatch Chile Glossary

From the fields to the table, here's every term you need to speak about Hatch chile like a New Mexican:

Frequently Asked Questions

Got questions about Hatch chile terminology? Here are the answers to the most common questions we hear:

Continue Learning About Hatch Chile

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