Meaning & use
Scoville
Last updated
Meaning
proper nounbefore a noun
Relating to a scale that measures how hot a chili pepper is, based on capsaicin content.
Grammar: Used before nouns like scale or unit: the Scoville scale, a Scoville rating.
Patterns
- Scoville scale
- Scoville unit
- Scoville rating
- Scoville heat unit
The Scoville scale is used to compare the heat of different chili peppers.
A jalapeño typically rates between 2,500 and 8,000 on the Scoville scale.
The Scoville rating of a pepper depends on its capsaicin concentration.
Common combinations
- Scoville scale
- According to the Scoville scale, a habanero is much hotter than a jalapeño.
- Scoville unit
- The sauce is rated at over one million Scoville units.
- Scoville rating
- The Scoville rating helps you choose a pepper that suits your taste.
- Scoville heat unit
- A bell pepper has a Scoville heat unit value of zero.
Practice
Which phrase correctly completes the sentence: 'The ___ of the Carolina Reaper pepper is over 1.5 million.'?
Choose one answer.
A 'Scoville rating' is the numerical value assigned to a pepper, so it fits before 'is over 1.5 million'. 'Scoville scale' is the whole system, not a single number; 'Scoville unit' would need a number before it (e.g., '1.5 million Scoville units'); 'Scoville heat' is not a standard phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Scoville”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.