ají

noun

ä-ˈhē How to pronounce ají (audio)
variants or less commonly aji
plural ajíes also ajies or ajís or ajis
: a chili pepper that ranges in pungency from mild to very hot and is produced by several usually cultivated varieties of a wild South American capsicum (Capsicum baccatum)
also : a plant bearing ají peppers

Examples of ají in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Start off with sharable plates like the Hamachi with green apple, coconut milk, and smoked aji panca or the fluffy Bao Buns filled with fried chicken, aji verde, and gochujang bbq. — Chelsea Davis, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025 Wonton chips and smoked ropa vieja are topped by cotija cheese, aji amarillo sauce and a ponzu reduction. — Martin Vassolo, Axios, 4 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish ají, from Taino axí

First Known Use

1822, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ají was in 1822

Browse Nearby Words

ají
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Cite this Entry

“Ají.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aj%C3%AD. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

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