jalapeño

noun

ja·​la·​pe·​ño ˌhä-lə-ˈpā-(ˌ)nyō 

ˌha-, 

-ˈpā-(ˌ)nō, 

-ˈpē-(ˌ)nō 

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

There’s a bit of jalapeno heat, the lime is bright and the agave keeps sweetness in the right lane. — Angela Hansberger, AJC.com, 6 July 2026

The secret to these BBQ chicken sandwiches is a combination of pineapple and sliced jalapeno. — Kelsey Ogletree, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 June 2026

Other standouts include the Ojai Noodle House for Vietnamese eats and The Nest of Ojai, which dishes up quintessentially Californian cuisine like salmon tacos and a hefty jalapeno bacon smash burger. — Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 14 June 2026

Serve with sour cream, jalapeno, hot sauce, and tortilla strips. — Martha Stewart, 9 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Mexican Spanish, from jalapeño, adjective, of Jalapa

First Known Use

1931, in the meaning defined above