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Definition of xalapa
xalapa
/həˈlɑː.pə/
Xa · la · pa
xalapa Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
10
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
The capital city of the state of Veracruz in eastern Mexico, historically known for its colonial architecture, rich cultural institutions, and surrounding coffee plantations.
Example
"During our tour of eastern Mexico, we spent three days exploring the vibrant markets and renowned anthropology museum of Xalapa."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for xalapaWord Nuance & Usage
Often spelled 'Jalapa' in historical texts; it is the etymological origin of the jalapeño pepper, which was traditionally cultivated in the surrounding region.
• Rhymes for xalapa
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Spanish Xalapa, which comes from the Nahuatl 'Xālapan', meaning 'spring in the sand' (from 'xālli' meaning sand and 'āpan' meaning water place or river).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Xalapa. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/xalapa