tabasco
C1Informal, Culinary
Definition
Meaning
A brand of spicy, vinegary pepper sauce made primarily from tabasco peppers, vinegar, and salt.
Used as a generic term for any very spicy, thin, vinegar-based hot sauce, or can refer to the specific variety of chili pepper (Capsicum frutescens) used to make it.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is a proper noun (trademark of the McIlhenny Company) but is often used as a common noun for similar hot sauces. The original product is aged in oak barrels.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The brand is equally recognized, but usage frequency might be higher in US contexts due to culinary culture.
Connotations
Connotes a specific, branded heat, often associated with Cajun and Mexican-inspired cuisine.
Frequency
More frequent in American English, especially in Southern and Southwestern culinary contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Add [quantifier] of tabasco to [food/drink][Food/drink] is seasoned with tabasco[Someone] likes/spices [something] with tabascoVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[To have] a tabasco moment (a sudden, spicy or intense experience)”
- “As American as apple pie and tabasco (modern, adapted culinary patriotism)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in food industry, marketing, or import/export contexts.
Academic
Rare, potentially in culinary history, anthropology, or food science papers.
Everyday
Common in cooking, restaurant ordering, and casual conversation about food.
Technical
Used in gastronomy, food chemistry (fermentation, capsaicin content), and horticulture (for the pepper cultivar).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He tabascoed his Bloody Mary liberally.
- I'm going to tabasco these prawns.
American English
- She tabascoed her gumbo until it was just right.
- You should tabasco those eggs.
adjective
British English
- A tabasco-laden rim on the cocktail glass.
- He prefers a tabasco flavour in his marinade.
American English
- A Tabasco-based wing sauce is classic.
- That's a very tabasco-forward hot sauce.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I like tabasco on my pizza.
- This sauce is very hot.
- Could you pass the tabasco, please? I'd like to add some to my soup.
- A few drops of tabasco will spice up the tomato juice.
- The secret to a good Bloody Mary is balancing the vodka, tomato juice, and a precise dash of tabasco.
- He grows his own tabasco peppers to make a homemade version of the sauce.
- The chef deconstructed the classic prawn cocktail, incorporating tabasco gel and avocado foam.
- The fermentation and ageing process gives tabasco its distinctive, complex acidity beyond mere heat.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: "TABle + Spicy COndiment = TABASCO on the table."
Conceptual Metaphor
HEAT/INTENSITY IS SPICINESS (e.g., 'The debate needed a dash of tabasco').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'Tobasco' (a common misspelling).
- It is not a general term for 'острый соус' (hot sauce) but a specific brand/type.
- The Russian word 'табаско' is a direct borrowing, but its usage is more specific than the broader Russian 'горчица' or 'аджика'.
Common Mistakes
- Spelling: 'Tobasco', 'Tabasko'.
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'two tabascos' instead of 'two bottles/dashes of tabasco').
- Confusing it with other thick hot sauces like sriracha.
Practice
Quiz
What is a defining characteristic of authentic Tabasco sauce?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Tabasco' is a specific trademarked brand of hot sauce known for its vinegar base and aging process. While often used generically, it refers to a particular style.
The name comes from the Mexican state of Tabasco. The McIlhenny Company founder, Edmund McIlhenny, reportedly obtained the pepper seeds from there in the mid-19th century.
It's used as a condiment to add heat and tangy acidity to dishes like eggs, soups, stews, Bloody Mary cocktails, and seafood. It's a seasoning, not a dipping sauce.
Original Tabasco sauce ranges from 2,500 to 5,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), making it moderately hot. They also produce much hotter variants like 'Habanero' and 'Scorpion' sauces.