Vegetables - Capsicum : Introduction Synonyms and common names

The name given to the fruits varies between English-speaking countries.

    * In Australia and New Zealand, heatless species are called "capsicums" while hot ones are called "chilli/chillies" (two L's). The term "bell peppers" is sometimes used, usually in reference to C. annuum and other varieties which look like a "capsicum" or bell but are fairly hot. A common Australian mispronunciation is "capsicun."


    * In the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Canada, the heatless varieties are called "peppers" or "sweet peppers" (or "green peppers," "red peppers," etc) while the hot ones are "chilli/chillies" (two L's) or "chilli peppers".


    * In the United States, the common heatless species is referred to as "bell peppers," "sweet peppers," "red/green/etc peppers," or simply "peppers", while the hot species are collectively called "chile/chiles," "chili/chilies," or "chili/chile peppers" (one L only).

The name "pepper" came into use because the plants were hot in the same sense as the condiment black pepper, Piper nigrum. There is no botanical relationship with this plant, however, nor with Sichuan Pepper.

In Spanish-speaking countries there are many different names for each variety and preparation. The dominant Spanish term is chile, though Pacific South American countries, such as Chile, whose name is unrelated, use ají.

In India and Pakistan capsicum is commonly called 'Shimla Mirch'. Shimla incidentally is a popular hill-station in India. However the word capsicum is said by English speakers in India.

In Israel capsicum is commonly called pilpel, meaning pepper in Hebrew.

In Korea, the word for hot pepper (gochu; 고추) is the same word used for penis.

In many midwestern regions of the United States the Sweet Bell Pepper is commonly referred to as a mango. Merriam-Webster Definition With the modern advent of fresh tropical fruit importers exposing a wider latitude of individuals to the tropical fruit variety of the Mango, this definition is becoming archaic. However many menus will still refer to a stuffed Bell Pepper as a Mango.



source : hydroponicsearch