chili con carne: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Informal, culinary
Quick answer
What does “chili con carne” mean?
A spicy stew of minced or diced meat (usually beef), chili peppers, and often beans and tomatoes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A spicy stew of minced or diced meat (usually beef), chili peppers, and often beans and tomatoes.
In broader usage, it can refer to any dish where the primary flavors are chili-spiced meat, sometimes served as a topping for other foods.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, the term is widely understood but less commonly a home-cooked staple; it's more often a pub or ready-meal dish. In the US, particularly the Southwest, it is a deeply ingrained culinary tradition with regional variations.
Connotations
UK: Often seen as an 'American' or 'Tex-Mex' food item. US: Can carry connotations of comfort food, sport events, regional pride (e.g., Texas chili, Cincinnati chili), and casual dining.
Frequency
Substantially more frequent in American English. Often abbreviated to just 'chili' in the US.
Grammar
How to Use “chili con carne” in a Sentence
[Someone] makes/serves/eats [chili con carne].[Chili con carne] is [adjective].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chili con carne” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We're going to chili-con-carne the leftovers by adding some kidney beans and cumin.
- This mince is perfect for chili-con-carning.
American English
- Let's chili that ground beef for the game.
- I'm chili-ing up some carne for dinner.
adverb
British English
- The meat was cooked chili-con-carne style.
- He ate it chili-con-carne, straight from the pot.
American English
- She seasoned the pot chili-con-carne hot.
- The meat simmers chili-con-carne slow and low.
adjective
British English
- He's got a chili-con-carne stain on his jumper.
- It was a proper chili-con-carne night at the pub.
American English
- That's a classic chili-con-carne flavor profile.
- They're having a chili-con-carne cook-off.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in contexts like food industry, restaurant menus, or catering.
Academic
Rare, except in cultural studies, anthropology, or culinary history.
Everyday
Common in informal conversations about food, cooking, and meals.
Technical
Used in culinary arts, food science, and recipe writing.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chili con carne”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chili con carne”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chili con carne”
- Misspelling as 'chilli con carni' or 'chilly con carny'. Using 'chili con carne' as a plural (e.g., 'two chili con carnes'); it's typically a mass noun. Confusing it with 'chili sin carne' (vegetarian version).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
This is a major point of contention. In Texas-style chili, beans are traditionally not included. In many other US regions and internationally, especially in the UK, kidney beans or other beans are a standard ingredient.
In American English, 'chili' is the common shortened form. 'Chili con carne' is the full, slightly more formal name. In British English, 'chili con carne' is more commonly used to avoid confusion with 'chilli' the pepper.
While the classic version uses beef, variations with other meats (chicken, pork, turkey) exist and are often called 'chili' (e.g., chicken chili). Purists might not consider these true 'chili con carne'.
The vegetarian or vegan version is commonly called 'chili sin carne' (Spanish for 'without meat') or simply 'vegetarian chili'.
A spicy stew of minced or diced meat (usually beef), chili peppers, and often beans and tomatoes.
Chili con carne is usually informal, culinary in register.
Chili con carne: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtʃɪl.i kɒn ˈkɑː.ni/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtʃɪl.i kɑːn ˈkɑːr.ni/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The whole enchilada (related conceptually, but not the same dish)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CHILI with meat CON CARNE' – 'con carne' is Spanish for 'with meat'. It's chili WITH meat.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMFORT IS WARMTH / COMMUNITY IS SHARED FOOD (e.g., 'A big pot of chili con carne brings everyone together.')
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary language origin of the phrase 'con carne' in 'chili con carne'?