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

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

Hold the jalapenos Employees serve customers at the first Chipotle fast-food restaurant in northeastern Mexico on its opening day in San Pedro Garza Garcia, July 16, 2026. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026

Don’t leave without trying their famous jalapeno pimento dip and homemade key lime pie. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 13 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Mexican Spanish, from jalapeño, adjective, of Jalapa

First Known Use

1931, in the meaning defined above