pretzel

noun

pret·​zel ˈpret-səl 

: a brittle or chewy glazed usually salted slender bread often shaped like a loose knot

Examples of pretzel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

An Oktoberfest board includes a sausage, two soft pretzels, cheese sauce, German mustard, sauerkraut and radi, or German radish that is typically consumed with beer. —Marcus Smith, Sacbee.com, 26 Sep. 2025

The Resy team especially love the pretzel made from Sonoran wheat, oysters with michelada granita and hoja santa dressing, squash salsa verde and New York strip with tepary beans, pork belly and green chiles. —Endia Fontanez, AZCentral.com, 26 Sep. 2025

Snacks include crispy lake perch with whitefish tonnato, prawns with Campari aioli, and smoked mackerel with pretzels and mustard zabaglione. —Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Sep. 2025

Best of all, the traditional German sausages, pretzels and Oktoberfest beers are top-tier delicious. —Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 19 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

German Brezel, ultimately from Latin brachiatus having branches like arms, from brachium arm — more at brace entry 2

First Known Use

1831, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pretzel

• quetzal

Kids Definition

pretzel

noun

pret·​zel ˈpret-səl 

: a brown cracker that is salted and usually hard and shaped like a loose knot

Etymology

from German Brezel "pretzel," derived from Latin brachiatus (adjective) "having branches like arms," from brachium, "arm" — related to brace entry 2

Word Origin

Pretzels were probably first made in the U.S. during the 19th century by immigrants from Germany. The English word pretzel comes from the German Brezel. The familiar knot-shaped pretzel has been known in Germanic countries for centuries. Its German name comes from the Latin brachiatus, which means "having branches like arms." The pretzel likely got its name because its knot shape looks something like a pair of folded arms.