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.
Americans also revealed their favorite picks for different types of food to eat during the Super Bowl, such as the spicy category, for which 50 percent chose wings, followed by jalapeno poppers (29 percent) and chili (24 percent). Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025 Hot Peppers Hot peppers like jalapenos, habaneros, and serrano peppers contain capsaicin, which may contribute to inflammation. Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Rdn, Health, 3 Feb. 2025 It is expected that if the tariffs go into effect, tomatoes, avocados, cucumbers, jalapenos, limes, mangos, and other typical produce imports from Mexico will increase in price. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025 Other products with a high concentration of Mexican imports include tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, jalapenos, limes and mangos, Miller said. Max Zahn, ABC News, 31 Jan. 2025 At Four Twenty Five, chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s midtown palace of fine dining, dig into a lunch of butternut squash soup with kohlrabi sauerkraut and pumpkin seed tapenade and pan-roasted hake served with a hakurei turnip–jalapeno emulsion. Ellen Carpenter, AFAR Media, 24 Jan. 2025 Previous versions included jalapeno ranch and a spicier variety featuring a Serrabanero hot sauce by Secret Aardvark, McClatchy News reported. Tanasia Kenney, Kansas City Star, 15 Jan. 2025 The restaurant also serves up a variety of side dishes, including chicken wings, mozzarella sticks and jalapenos poppers, as well as pastas and salads. Marcus D. Smith, Sacramento Bee, 7 Jan. 2025 Whataburger advises customers who want to elevate their taste experience to top the taco with Monterey Jack or shredded cheese, bacon, avocado, jalapenos and Whataburger’s creamy pepper sauce. Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Jan. 2025

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

Dictionary Entries Near jalapeño

Cite this Entry

“Jalapeño.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jalape%C3%B1o. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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