cayenne pepper: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2culinary, everyday, botanical
Quick answer
What does “cayenne pepper” mean?
A very hot, powdered spice made from dried fruits of certain varieties of Capsicum annuum peppers, typically used to add heat to dishes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A very hot, powdered spice made from dried fruits of certain varieties of Capsicum annuum peppers, typically used to add heat to dishes.
A specific variety of hot red pepper, and the ground spice derived from it, known for its intense, pungent heat and bright red colour. In botany, refers to the plant Capsicum annuum 'Cayenne'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical. More likely to be found in 'specialist' or 'world food' sections in UK supermarkets, whereas it is a common pantry staple in the US.
Connotations
In the UK, may carry connotations of 'foreign' or 'exotic' cuisine (e.g., Cajun, Indian). In the US, it's a standard ingredient associated with Southern, Creole, Mexican, and general spicy cooking.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to the popularity of Tex-Mex, Cajun, and Southern cuisines.
Grammar
How to Use “cayenne pepper” in a Sentence
Add <cayenne pepper> to the sauce.Season the chicken with <cayenne pepper>.The recipe calls for a pinch of <cayenne pepper>.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cayenne pepper” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- A little cayenne pepper lifts a simple tomato soup.
- He bought cayenne pepper from the specialist Asian grocer.
American English
- Cayenne pepper is a key ingredient in my gumbo.
- She shook some cayenne pepper onto her pizza.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in food manufacturing, product descriptions for sauces, snacks, and ready meals.
Academic
Used in botany, culinary arts, food science, and nutrition papers discussing capsaicin content.
Everyday
Common in home cooking recipes and restaurant menu descriptions.
Technical
Specific cultivar name in horticulture; defined by Scoville Heat Units (SHU) in food science.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cayenne pepper”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cayenne pepper”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cayenne pepper”
- Misspelling as 'cayanne' or 'cayane'. Using it interchangeably with 'paprika' (which is milder and smoked). Overuse, as it is very potent.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Chilli powder' in many countries (especially the UK) is often pure ground chillies, similar to cayenne. In the US, 'chilli powder' is typically a blend containing ground chillies, cumin, garlic powder, and other spices. Cayenne is usually hotter and purer.
It is very hot, ranging from 30,000 to 50,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). For comparison, a jalapeño is about 2,500–8,000 SHU.
Only if you want colour without significant heat. Paprika is much milder. For heat, use cayenne, crushed red pepper, or another hot chilli powder.
It is named after the city of Cayenne in French Guiana, a historical hub for the spice trade, though the peppers themselves originated in South America.
A very hot, powdered spice made from dried fruits of certain varieties of Capsicum annuum peppers, typically used to add heat to dishes.
Cayenne pepper is usually culinary, everyday, botanical in register.
Cayenne pepper: in British English it is pronounced /kaɪˌen ˈpep.ər/, /keɪˌen ˈpep.ər/, and in American English it is pronounced /kaɪˌen ˈpep.ɚ/, /keɪˌen ˈpep.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A touch of cayenne (meaning: a small amount of excitement or danger).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Cayenne sounds like 'K.Y. Anne' – imagine Anne from Kentucky adding a very hot pepper to her famous stew.
Conceptual Metaphor
HEAT IS INTENSITY/EXCITEMENT (e.g., 'The debate needed a dash of cayenne.').
Practice
Quiz
What is cayenne pepper primarily known for contributing to a dish?