jalapeño

noun

ja·​la·​pe·​ño ˌhä-lə-ˈpā-(ˌ)nyō How to pronounce jalapeño (audio)
ˌha-, 
-ˈpā-(ˌ)nō, 
-ˈpē-(ˌ)nō How to pronounce jalapeño (audio)
variants or less commonly jalapeno
plural jalapeños also jalapenos
: a small plump dark green chili pepper of Mexico and the southern U.S.

called also jalapeño pepper

Examples of jalapeño 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.
Add corn, sharp cheddar, scallions, jalapeno, garlic, and chives. — ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026 The menu seems to change, but for now, there’s a Hellraiser for a person who’s a bit of a heat-seeker with bacon, blue cheese, mozzarella and jalapeno-pistachio jam. — John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026 Investigators have traced the outbreak to a bacterium known as Salmonella Javiana in jalapeno peppers grown in Sinaloa, Mexico and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors. — Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026 The grilled Spam and cheese sliders ($16), with thin slices of Spam seared crisp served on Hawaiian buns with pineapple-jalapeno chutney, are a flavor bomb. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for jalapeño

Word History

Etymology

Mexican Spanish, from jalapeño, adjective, of Jalapa

First Known Use

1931, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of jalapeño was in 1931

Browse Nearby Words

jalap
jalapeño
jalee work
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Cite this Entry

“Jalapeño.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jalape%C3%B1o. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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