black-eyed pea: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal, culinary, regional (especially Southern US).
Quick answer
What does “black-eyed pea” mean?
A small, cream-colored legume with a distinctive black spot on its inner curve.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, cream-colored legume with a distinctive black spot on its inner curve.
A culturally significant food, especially in the Southern United States, associated with good luck when eaten on New Year's Day.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, this specific variety of bean is less common and the term 'black-eyed pea' is understood but not widely used in everyday cooking. The more general term 'black-eyed bean' is also acceptable in the UK.
Connotations
In American English (particularly Southern US), it carries strong cultural and traditional connotations (New Year's luck, Southern cuisine, soul food). In British English, it is primarily a descriptive culinary term.
Frequency
Much more frequent in American English, especially in the Southern and Southwestern states. Low frequency in British English.
Grammar
How to Use “black-eyed pea” in a Sentence
I VERB black-eyed peas (e.g., eat, cook)Black-eyed peas are ADJECTIVE (e.g., delicious, traditional)Black-eyed peas with NOUN (e.g., ham hocks, rice)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “black-eyed pea” in a Sentence
adjective
American English
- The black-eyed pea casserole is a classic side dish.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in agribusiness, food import/export, or restaurant supply contexts.
Academic
Used in agricultural, botanical, culinary history, and cultural studies papers.
Everyday
Common in American English, especially in food shopping, cooking, and holiday tradition discussions.
Technical
Used in botany/agriculture (*Vigna unguiculata*), nutrition, and culinary arts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “black-eyed pea”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “black-eyed pea”
- Writing it as 'blackeye pea' (should be hyphenated).
- Confusing it with chickpeas or other beans.
- Assuming it is a pea (it's a bean).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, despite the name, black-eyed peas are a type of bean, specifically a subspecies of the cowpea (Vigna unguiculata).
The tradition, prevalent in the American South, associates black-eyed peas with coins and prosperity, and eating them on New Year's Day is believed to bring good luck and financial fortune for the coming year.
Hoppin' John is a classic Southern dish made from black-eyed peas, rice, and pork (such as bacon, ham hock, or sausage), traditionally served on New Year's Day.
It is recommended to soak dried black-eyed peas for several hours or overnight to reduce cooking time and improve digestibility, but 'quick-soak' methods or using canned peas (which are pre-cooked) are common alternatives.
A small, cream-colored legume with a distinctive black spot on its inner curve.
Black-eyed pea is usually informal, culinary, regional (especially southern us). in register.
Black-eyed pea: in British English it is pronounced /ˌblæk.aɪd ˈpiː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌblæk.aɪd ˈpiː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Good luck peas (informal, Southern US)”
- “Eat poor on New Year's, eat rich the rest of the year (referring to the tradition of eating black-eyed peas with greens and cornbread)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a PEA with a BLACK EYE (a black spot) - it's a black-eyed pea.
Conceptual Metaphor
A LUCKY CHARM (in Southern US culture, they are metaphorically consumed for fortune).
Practice
Quiz
What is a more common term for 'black-eyed pea' in British English?