# How do you pronounce "Chile"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 12, 2011, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-chile/588731 "2011-07-12T12:09:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-chile/588731/1 "2011-07-12T12:09:35Z")
When I was growing up in Massachusetts 60 years ago, it was pronounced as if it were written “Chilly”. Now I hear people pronouncing it as if it were spelled “Chill-Lay”. How do you pronounce it? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-chile/588731/2 "2011-07-12T12:23:33Z")
If it’s the country: CHEE-lay If it’s the misspelled meat stew dish: Chill-ly If it’s the blackface way of saying a young person: CHYL Not trying to be funny, but context directs pronunciation. ETA: didn’t vote yet. Please clarify the intent. ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-chile/588731/3 "2011-07-12T12:33:24Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > If it’s the country: CHEE-lay > > If it’s the misspelled meat stew dish: Chill-ly > > If it’s the blackface way of saying a young person: CHYL > > Not trying to be funny, but context directs pronunciation. > > ETA: didn’t vote yet. Please clarify the intent. The Country. And you are correct, “CHEE-lay” is actually a better representation of how I hear it being pronounced today. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-chile/588731/4 "2011-07-12T12:48:31Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > If it’s the misspelled meat stew dish: Chill-ly \ The spicy meat stew is _chili_, not chile. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-chile/588731/5 "2011-07-12T12:52:03Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > \ The spicy meat stew is _chili_, not chile. Please read what I said. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-chile/588731/6 "2011-07-12T12:53:36Z")
When I took Spanish, I had a heck of a time doing the rolled “R”. So for practice sake, I pronounce the country as if I am a native, and I add a long rolled “R” as well. Hasta mananna, banana. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-chile/588731/7 "2011-07-12T12:56:07Z")
“Chile”. (When doing Hendrix). ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-chile/588731/8 "2011-07-12T12:59:19Z")
I’d say “chilly” and mean the South American county. I’m from the UK FWIW. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-chile/588731/9 "2011-07-12T13:18:32Z")
Chee-lay. My husband lived there for a couple of years and speaks Spanish with a strong Chilean accent that is noticeable even to my Spanish-challenged self. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-chile/588731/10 "2011-07-12T14:10:22Z")
Chile, the country: ‘CHEE-lay’ Chile (the fruit) or chili (the stew): ‘chilly’ ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-chile/588731/11 "2011-07-12T14:19:17Z")
I think I’ve pronounced it both ways, but probably leaning towards “chill-ay” more often. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-chile/588731/12 "2011-07-12T14:55:36Z")
If I am paying attention to what I am saying, **Chill-lay** , but if I’m not really thinking it will probably come out as **Chilly**. (Not that I talk about the place all that often.) ---
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-chile/588731/13 "2011-07-12T16:03:23Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > When I took Spanish, I had a heck of a time doing the rolled “R”. So for practice sake, I pronounce the country as if I am a native, and I add a long rolled “R” as well. Hasta mananna, banana. You put an “R” in Chile? 😕 Well, different strokes for different folks, I guess! I say “Chilly” except when I’m being funny, then it’s “Cheee-lay.” And I’m TheChileanBlob, so, you know, I’m right! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-chile/588731/14 "2011-07-12T16:05:49Z")
What **Zeldar** said. ---
**Author:** ![Pyper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pyper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pyper)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-chile/588731/15 "2011-07-12T16:06:13Z")
Depends on what language I’m speaking. If I’m speaking English, I say “Chilly,” if I’m speaking Spanish I say, “Chee-leh.” ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-chile/588731/16 "2011-07-12T16:08:51Z")
[tʃaɪɫ] (rhymes with _while_). You were thinking about Jimi Hendrix’s song “Voodoo Chile,” weren’t you? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-chile/588731/17 "2011-07-12T16:10:39Z")
> [@TheChileanBlob](#): > > You put an “R” in Chile? 😕 Well, different strokes for different folks, I guess! RrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrShill-Lay!😃 ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-chile/588731/18 "2011-07-12T16:12:13Z")
> [@Ronald\_C.Semone](#): > > The Country. And you are correct, “CHEE-lay” is actually a better representation of how I hear it being pronounced today. Thanks for the clarification. I voted. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-chile/588731/19 "2011-07-13T01:17:00Z")
Chilly. It’s only in recent years that I’ve heard it being pronounced (by politicians and newsreaders) as Chillay. I have no doubt that closer to the correct pronunciation but I’d feel I was being pretentious if I changed now. Ditto Nestle. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-chile/588731/20 "2011-07-13T01:32:12Z")
Chee-lay [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-chile/588731.md?page=2)