guinea pepper: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2 (Very Low Frequency)Historical, Botanical, Culinary (Specialist)
Quick answer
What does “guinea pepper” mean?
A common name for several African plants of the genus Piper or Capsicum whose fruits are dried and ground to produce a hot, pungent spice.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A common name for several African plants of the genus Piper or Capsicum whose fruits are dried and ground to produce a hot, pungent spice.
Historically, a term for various pungent spices traded from the West African coast (the Guinea Coast). It can refer specifically to grains of paradise (Aframomum melegueta) or to certain types of chilli peppers. The term is now somewhat archaic.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is equally rare in both varieties. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British historical or botanical texts due to colonial trade history.
Connotations
Archaic, historical trade, exoticism.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in modern usage. Primarily found in historical documents, botanical guides, or very specialised culinary writing.
Grammar
How to Use “guinea pepper” in a Sentence
[Plant] yields guinea pepper[Recipe] calls for a pinch of guinea pepper[Historical text] mentions the trade of guinea pepperVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “guinea pepper” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The 18th-century merchant's ledger listed a shipment of guinea pepper.
- Some historical recipes for hippocras call for guinea pepper.
American English
- The botanist identified the specimen as a type of guinea pepper.
- Early American apothecaries sometimes stocked guinea pepper.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Historical context: commodity trade.
Academic
Botany, history of trade, culinary history.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Botanical identification, historical recipe recreation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “guinea pepper”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “guinea pepper”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “guinea pepper”
- Using it to refer to common black pepper (Piper nigrum).
- Assuming it is a single, specific plant.
- Using it in modern contexts where 'chilli' or 'grains of paradise' would be clearer.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While both are spices, 'guinea pepper' typically refers to grains of paradise (Aframomum melegueta) or similar African plants, not the common black pepper plant (Piper nigrum).
It is very unlikely. You may find it labelled as 'grains of paradise' or 'melegueta pepper' in specialty spice shops or online.
The name derives from the Guinea coast of West Africa, from where the spice was historically traded to Europe.
It is pungent and peppery with hints of citrus and cardamom, but its heat level is generally less intense than that of chillies like cayenne.
A common name for several African plants of the genus Piper or Capsicum whose fruits are dried and ground to produce a hot, pungent spice.
Guinea pepper is usually historical, botanical, culinary (specialist) in register.
Guinea pepper: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡɪni ˌpɛpə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡɪni ˌpɛpər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the Guinea coast of Africa + the heat of pepper = a hot spice from West Africa.
Conceptual Metaphor
GEOGRAPHICAL ORIGIN FOR PRODUCT (Guinea -> spice).
Practice
Quiz
What is 'guinea pepper' most accurately described as?