Etymology Map
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Jalapeno

3 stages from Nahuatl to English.

Today it means a hot green chilli pepper

Where does the word "jalapeno" come from? It comes from Nahuatl Xalapan, passing through Mexican Spanish before entering English (1940s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
Xalapan
Nahuatl · pre-1500s
"sand by the water"
'sand by the water', the name of the town now called Xalapa
2
Stage 2 of 3
jalapeño
Mexican Spanish · 1800s
"from Xalapa"
'from Xalapa', the capital of Veracruz, where the pepper was grown and sold
3
Stage 3 of 3
jalapeño
American English · 1940s
"hot green chilli"
spread with Tex-Mex food
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Read the full story

Jalapeno’s story begins in Nahuatl: Xalapan meant “sand by the water.” 'sand by the water', the name of the town now called Xalapa. By 1800s, the word had taken hold in Mexican Spanish as jalapeño. 'from Xalapa', the capital of Veracruz, where the pepper was grown and sold. It reached English by 1940s as jalapeño. Spread with Tex-Mex food. Today, jalapeno means a hot green chilli pepper.