I have never heard someone say "habañero", that's hilarious. I live like 20 miles from the Mexico border though so most people speak at least a little Spanish.

Likely due to jalapeño, no? Chile pepper = ñ to non Spanish speakers

hãbanero

I think part of the problem is that it's hit or miss whether or not it's spelled/spoken with ñ or n, in advertising and labels. Here in the US anyway.

What's funny is that the ñ spelling and pronunciation has bled over into native spanish speakers. My friend's husband is from Nicaragua, and his entire family pronounces it ñ. One of my neighbors though, from Guadalajara originally, it's n only.

I'd also say that habanero is ñ friendly. It looks like it should be pronounced habañero, unlike a fairly similar word, Enero. It's easier to say habañero than eñero as well. The a leading into the n does that for some reason I can't figure out.

However! Pero and perro blows people's minds. While I don't hear it with native speakers, damn near everyone else I've run into pronounces them the same. I do, and I know better, because I can't make my tongue work right.

I hear this as often as I hear "jalapeno" (missing the eñe) 😑

Strong take, and new to me