jalapeño

American  

[hah-luh-peyn-yoh, hah-lah-pe-nyaw] / ˌhɑ ləˈpeɪn yoʊ, ˌhɑ lɑˈpɛ nyɔ /

Or jalapeno

noun

plural

jalapeños

1. a hot green or orange-red chile pepper, the fruit of a variety of Capsicum annuum, used especially in Mexican cooking.

---

jalapeño British  

/ dʒæləˈpiːnəʊ, xalaˈpenjo /

noun

1. Also: jalapeño pepper.  a very hot type of green chilli pepper, used esp in Mexican cookery

---

Etymology

Origin of jalapeño

First recorded in 1935–40; from Mexican Spanish ( chile ) jalapeño “(chile of) Jalapa ”; chile ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

A pizzeria near the airport features a pie named for Joe Biden, though Mr. Biden found the featured jalapeño too spicy when he tried it during a visit in 2023.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 27, 2025

If you’re feeling spicy, try leveling some lemon peels with jalapeños and sugar along with adding a jalapeño garnish and a Tajin rim around the glass.

From Salon • Aug. 29, 2025

Baldi In the evening, we’d all jump into the car and head to Nobu because the boys love the yellowtail jalapeño.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 13, 2024

It is all about spice: a tart smack of mustard followed by the slow burn of a jalapeño pepper.

From New York Times • May 18, 2024

She hated fish with bones, and there was no way she was eating jalapeño and green onion hushpuppies.

From "The Parker Inheritance" by Varian Johnson

Related Words

• chili pepper
• hot pepper
• red pepper