Chipotle is one of the most popular fast casual chains in the US. If you’re reading this article, odds are you love this chain. If you’re one of the few people who prefer Qdoba to Chipotle, I appreciate you taking the time to learn how to pronounce it correctly regardless of your feelings about Chipotle’s food.
No matter which side you’re on, we have a major issue — nobody seems to know exactly how to pronounce Chipotle correctly.
Mostly parents, it seems.
Here’s how to pronounce Chipotle so you and your friends can stop arguing with one another. If your parents are the ones struggling, good luck convincing them to change their ways.
Popular Pronunciations of Chipotle
Some people swear that it’s pronounced as “chi-poat-lay” or as “chi-poat-lee.” Others might say that it’s pronounced as “chip-oat-lay,” “chi-poat-leh,” or as “chip-oat-lee.” I’ve even heard some people pronounce Chipotle as “chip-ot-el” or as “chi-poat-el” or even as “chi-pot-el.” (Spoiler alert: Those last few are definitely not how you pronounce it.)
I’m not trying to break anyone’s heart or start a fight, but I need to break some news to you guys—most of you are pronouncing Chipotle completely wrong. Even with some pronunciation variations of the chain’s name, it’s safe to say that some of you guys are full on butchering it. Don’t come at me, bro.
How to Actually Pronounce Chipotle
For most, if not all of you, this part of the article might be the only part that you actually give a damn about—and you know what, that’s completely fine.
Arguably, this is the most important part of the article because it’s the part where you and your friends can stop debating over how to pronounce Chipotle as you’re en route to visit Chipotle. On that note, here’s the part that 99.9 percent of you have been waiting for.
Step one: The first part to this is saying “chi.” Say it with me, “chi.”
Step two: Next, you want to say “poat.” Kind of like “boat,” but with a “p” in the beginning. Make sure that when pronouncing “poat,” most of the emphasis goes onto the “oat” part. Otherwise, you’re just saying it wrong.
Step three: Then, you want to say “leh.”
Step four: Combine steps one through three together. Then, pronounce said steps altogether. Once you have done so, you end up with the end result of “chi-poat-leh.” Amazing, right?
The Proof
Some of you may be thinking that I pulled this pronunciation out of nowhere, but I have some good news: I have proof. Not from one credible site, but from two credible sites.
According to the Merriam-Webster and the Oxford English dictionaries, the emphasis will always be placed on the “poat” in Chipotle. This might cause some arguments, but you can’t say that you didn’t have some proof to fall back on.
Knowing how to pronounce Chipotle correctly can be used in an array of situations. You might be talking to an employee at Chipotle and might not want to completely butcher the name of their employer.
You also might want to go make a Chipotle run with some of your friends or family that you haven’t seen in awhile, and might be in the mood to make a good impression on them. But whatever you do, know you have no more excuses to pronounce Chipotle incorrectly.