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noun

pretzel

PREHT-suhl

Pretzel (noun) means a baked bread snack, often salted, twisted into a knot or loop shape. Example: “She bought a warm pretzel from the street vendor.”

noun
1
A baked bread snack, often salted, twisted into a knot or loop shape.
"She bought a warm pretzel from the street vendor."
verb
1
To bend or twist something into a knotted shape.
"The yoga instructor pretzeled herself into an impressive pose."

How to use pretzel

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe twisted baked snack, or (as a verb) to twist something into a similar knot shape.

Common pairings
soft pretzel pretzel logic twist into a pretzel

Word forms

pretzeled past tense, pretzelled past tense, pretzels plural, pretzels singular

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Test yourself on “pretzel” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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Can you complete this real example?

She bought a warm _____ from the street vendor.

Etymology

From German Brezel, ultimately from Latin brachium ("arm") — the shape is thought to resemble folded arms.

Origin: Latin

Frequently asked questions

What does “pretzel” mean?

The word “pretzel” means a baked bread snack, often salted, twisted into a knot or loop shape. In plain terms, the twisted baked snack, or (as a verb) to twist something into a similar knot shape.

How do you pronounce “pretzel”?

“Pretzel” is pronounced PREHT-suhl (/ˈpɹɛt.səl/ in IPA).

How do you use “pretzel” in a sentence?

Here is “pretzel” used in a sentence: “She bought a warm pretzel from the street vendor.”

What part of speech is “pretzel”?

Depending on how it is used, “pretzel” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “pretzel” come from?

The word “pretzel” comes from Latin. From German Brezel, ultimately from Latin brachium ("arm") — the shape is thought to resemble folded arms.

How many meanings does “pretzel” have?

“Pretzel” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a baked bread snack, often salted, twisted into a knot or loop shape.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial