The name jalapeño means 'from' which Mexican city?

The name jalapeño means “from Xalapa,” the Mexican city also commonly spelled Jalapa.

Xalapa is the capital of Veracruz, and the Spanish word jalapeño literally describes something associated with that place. The pepper’s name reflects this geographic connection even though modern commercial jalapeño production is concentrated largely elsewhere in Mexico and in other countries.

The city’s name comes from Classical Nahuatl roots commonly interpreted as xālli, meaning “sand,” and āpan, meaning “place of water.” Xalapa is also officially known as Xalapa-Enríquez and is nicknamed the “City of Flowers.”

The spelling can cause confusion. Xalapa preserves the city’s modern official spelling, while Jalapa is an established Spanish variant; the pepper’s name uses the j spelling because Spanish pronunciation and spelling conventions developed differently. The term therefore means “from Xalapa,” not “hot” or “chile.”