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Definition of guajillo
guajillo
/ɡwɑːˈhiː.oʊ/
gua · jil · lo
Plural:guajillos
guajillo Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A widely used Mexican variety of chili pepper (the dried form of the mirasol chili, a cultivar of Capsicum annuum), having a long, smooth, deep-red leathery pod and a mild to medium heat with a tangy, slightly fruity, and smoky flavor used in salsas, moles, and marinades.
Example
"The chef toasted and rehydrated several dried guajillos before blending them into a rich red enchilada sauce."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for guajillo• Rhymes for guajillo
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Mexican Spanish guajillo, a diminutive of guaje (from Nahuatl huaxin, referring to the Leucaena tree and its seedpods, or a gourd rattle), so named because the loose seeds inside the dried chili pod rattle when shaken.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Guajillo. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 17, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/guajillo