name
Common
Chile
CHIHL-ee
Chile (name) means a long, narrow country on the western coast of South America. Example: “They traveled the length of Chile, from the Atacama Desert to Patagonia.”
name
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A long, narrow country on the western coast of South America.
"They traveled the length of Chile, from the Atacama Desert to Patagonia."
How to use Chile
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA South American country running down the Pacific coast, known for the Andes, its wine, and Patagonia.
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They traveled the length of _____, from the Atacama Desert to Patagonia.
Etymology
Borrowed from Spanish Chile, possibly from a Quechua word meaning "cold."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for Chile
See all rhymes for Chile →Frequently asked questions
What does “Chile” mean?
The word “Chile” means a long, narrow country on the western coast of South America. In plain terms, a South American country running down the Pacific coast, known for the Andes, its wine, and Patagonia.
How do you pronounce “Chile”?
“Chile” is pronounced CHIHL-ee (/ˈt͡ʃiː.leɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “Chile” in a sentence?
Here is “Chile” used in a sentence: “They traveled the length of Chile, from the Atacama Desert to Patagonia.”
What part of speech is “Chile”?
“Chile” is a name.
Where does the word “Chile” come from?
The word “Chile” comes from Spanish. Borrowed from Spanish Chile, possibly from a Quechua word meaning "cold.".
Is “Chile” a common word?
“Chile” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between Chile, chili, and chilli?
Chile with a capital C is the long, narrow country on the western coast of South America. Chili (the usual American spelling) and chilli (the usual British spelling) refer to the spicy pepper, while lowercase chile is a common spelling for the pepper in Mexican and Southwestern US cooking. Capitalization and context tell readers which one is meant.
Should Chile be capitalized?
Yes — as the name of a country, Chile is a proper noun and always takes a capital C. Lowercase chile normally refers to a chili pepper, a spelling common in Mexican and Southwestern American English. Confusing the two is one of the most frequent spelling slips involving the word.
Do you use "the" before Chile?
No. Chile takes no article in English, so you say "She lives in Chile," not "in the Chile." Only certain country names — usually plural forms or names built on common nouns, such as the United States, the Netherlands, or the Philippines — are used with "the."
What do you call someone from Chile?
A person from Chile is called a Chilean, and the same word serves as the adjective, as in "Chilean wine." Like all nationality words in English, it is always capitalized.
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