mexicali: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “mexicali” mean?
A city in northern Mexico, capital of the state of Baja California, near the border with California, USA.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A city in northern Mexico, capital of the state of Baja California, near the border with California, USA.
Often refers to the culture, cuisine (especially a fusion of Mexican and American styles), or products originating from the Mexicali region. Also a breed of rose named after the city. In English, it is used primarily as a proper noun to denote the geographical location.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both British and American English treat it as a proper noun referring to the Mexican city. American English has slightly higher potential frequency due to geographical and cultural proximity.
Connotations
Connotes Mexican border culture, desert climate, and a specific regional identity. In American English, may also connote proximity to the Imperial Valley (California) and cross-border trade.
Frequency
Used with similar low frequency in both varieties. Appears in geographical, travel, culinary, and news contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “mexicali” in a Sentence
[Preposition +] Mexicali (e.g., in/from/near/to Mexicali)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mexicali” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (not used as a verb)
American English
- (not used as a verb)
adverb
British English
- (not used as an adverb)
American English
- (not used as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- (rarely attributive, e.g., 'Mexicali region')
American English
- (used attributively, e.g., 'Mexicali-style tacos', 'a Mexicali brewery')
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in contexts of cross-border trade, manufacturing (maquiladoras), or agriculture from the region (e.g., 'The factory is based in Mexicali.').
Academic
Appears in geographical, anthropological, or economic studies focusing on the US-Mexico border region.
Everyday
Used in travel plans, discussions of Mexican food, or news about events in northern Mexico (e.g., 'We drove through Mexicali on our way to San Felipe.').
Technical
Used in meteorological reports (e.g., 'Extreme heat warning for the Mexicali Valley.') or geographical descriptions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mexicali”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mexicali”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mexicali”
- Misspelling as 'Mexicalli', 'Mexicoly', or 'Mexicaly'.
- Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'a mexicali' is incorrect).
- Mispronouncing the final 'i' as a long 'e' (/iː/) instead of a short 'i' or long 'e' sound.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is almost exclusively a proper noun referring to the specific city and its associated culture/products.
The most common American English pronunciation is /ˌmɛksɪˈkæli/, with stress on the third syllable. Locally near the border, you may hear /ˌmɛhɪˈkɑli/.
Calexico is a city in California, USA, directly across the border from Mexicali. Their names are portmanteaus: Mexicali (Mexico + California) and Calexico (California + Mexico).
No, the meaning is identical. The main difference is potential familiarity; it is slightly better known in American English due to proximity.
A city in northern Mexico, capital of the state of Baja California, near the border with California, USA.
Mexicali is usually neutral in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(none specific to this word in English)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: MEXIco + CALIfornia = MEXICALI, the Mexican city right next to California.
Conceptual Metaphor
The city is not a source for conceptual metaphors in common English usage.
Practice
Quiz
What is Mexicali primarily?