jalapeño
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of jalapeño
First recorded in 1935–40; from Mexican Spanish ( chile ) jalapeño “(chile of) Jalapa ”; see also chile 1 ( def. )
Explanation
A jalapeno is a small hot pepper, and it's also the name of the plant that grows these peppers. To make salsa, you need tomatoes, jalapenos, and a few other ingredients. Most fans of Mexican food are familiar with green jalapenos, the usual stage at which they're picked. If you leave the peppers on the plant, however, the jalapenos eventually turn bright red. In English, the word is spelled either with or without the tilde accent over the n. This accent makes it clear that jalapeño is a Spanish word — and it means "of Jalapa," a place in Mexico known as the birthplace of the jalapeno.
Vocabulary lists containing jalapeno
English Words Derived from Indigenous Languages of the Americas
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World Cuisine - Introductory
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World Cuisine - Middle School and High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Tossed with olive oil, tomatoes, jalapeño, feta and Parmesan cheese, the expertly al dente Rustichella rigatoni is not your everyday mac ‘n’ cheese dinner.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 23, 2026
The company launched limited-edition flavors such as pizza, garlic Parmesan and, recently, apple pie, and jalapeño and ranch as permanent additions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 2, 2026
The wontons are filled with a delicious blend of cream cheese, parmesan and diced jalapeño peppers, which is then encased in a wonton skin and fried “until bubbly and golden brown.”
From Salon ● Aug. 7, 2025
Continuing on the appetizers train, TJ’s Jalapeño & Cream Cheese Crispy Wontons are described as “a mix between a rangoon and jalapeño popper.”
From Salon ● Aug. 7, 2025
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
“Our customers understand that they can add grilled jalapeños or swap out grilled onions for our freshly cut tomatoes,” she said earlier this month at The Wall Street Journal Global Food Forum.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
A single tub of pico de gallo, for instance, quietly replaces fresh tomatoes, onion, cilantro and jalapeños all at once.
From Salon ● May 19, 2026
We gave in to my husband and allowed pineapple and jalapeños on half although we were mortified.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2025
Bread & butter pickles aren’t an ideal choice, but they could work for a spicier lemonade that incorporates cayenne pepper and jalapeños.
From Salon ● Aug. 29, 2025
“Long as there are jalapeños, count me in,” says Alex.
From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
