pepino

noun

pe·​pi·​no pə-ˈpē-(ˌ)nō How to pronounce pepino (audio)
plural pepinos
: a bushy perennial plant (Solanum muricatum) of the nightshade family that is native to temperate uplands of South America and has an edible usually purple-marked yellow fruit
also : the fruit

Examples of pepino in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The red is a salsa de pepino, fruity with cucumber and chile de arbol. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026 Try the pico pepino for a spicy mix of tequila and mezcal with cucumber jalapeńo purée. — Brandon Schultz, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2021

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish, from Spanish, cucumber, from Old Spanish pepón melon, from Latin pepon-, pepo

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pepino was in 1890

Rhymes for pepino

See All Rhymes for pepino

Browse Nearby Words

Pepin, Lake
pepino
pepita
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pepino.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pepino. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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