anis: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, culinary, botanical
Quick answer
What does “anis” mean?
A plant of the parsley family, or its aromatic seeds, used for flavouring.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A plant of the parsley family, or its aromatic seeds, used for flavouring.
The liquorice-flavoured seeds of the plant Pimpinella anisum, used in cooking and to produce aniseed-flavoured liqueurs. Also refers to the plant itself.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The form 'anis' is rare in both dialects, primarily used in technical/botanical contexts. 'Anise' is the standard term for the plant/flavour in AmE. BrE slightly more likely to use 'aniseed' for the seed.
Connotations
Technical or specialised. May sound slightly archaic or deliberately European (e.g., on a continental menu).
Frequency
Very low frequency in general corpora. Higher in specialised texts on botany, distilling, or gourmet cooking.
Grammar
How to Use “anis” in a Sentence
[Noun] flavoured with anis[Noun] made from anisthe anis plantVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “anis” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The recipe calls for an anis-flavoured syrup.
- It had a distinct, anis-like aroma.
American English
- The cocktail had a strong anis flavor.
- They used an anis-based liqueur.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in import/export of spices or botanical products.
Academic
Used in botanical, pharmacological, or culinary science texts.
Everyday
Very rare. 'Aniseed' or 'anise flavour' is preferred.
Technical
Standard term in botany (species name) and some liqueur production.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “anis”
- Misspelling as 'annise' or 'annice'.
- Using 'anis' as a countable noun in plural (*'two anis') instead of 'anis seeds' or 'anise plants'.
- Pronouncing it /ˈeɪ.nɪs/ (like 'anus').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Essentially, yes. 'Anis' typically refers to the plant or the seed in a botanical/technical sense, while 'aniseed' is the common term for the seed used as a spice or flavouring.
It is pronounced /ˈæn.ɪs/ (AN-iss), identical to the more common word 'anise'.
Almost never in everyday language. Use 'anis' only if you are quoting a scientific name, a historical text, or a specific European product name. 'Anise' is the standard modern English word.
Botanically, no. Star anise (Illicium verum) is from a different plant family, but its flavour is similar, hence the shared name element.
A plant of the parsley family, or its aromatic seeds, used for flavouring.
Anis is usually formal, culinary, botanical in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to 'anis'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'A niece (anis) likes the smell of liquorice.'
Conceptual Metaphor
FLAVOUR IS A SUBSTANCE (e.g., 'add a hint of anis').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'anis' MOST appropriately used?