# pretzel

/ˈpɹɛtzəɫ/ (US) · /pɹˈɛtsəl/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pretzel
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

a long, twisted bread shaped like a knot. It is usually baked in a salty water solution and has a chewy texture.

For teachers: a type of bread made from wheat flour, water, and salt, typically shaped into a knot or twisted form and boiled before baking. The boiling process gives it a distinctive chewy texture and a characteristic dark brown colour.

## Examples

- I bought a warm pretzel from the bakery.
- The recipe for a traditional German pretzel requires the dough to be boiled in a salty solution before it is baked in a hot oven.
- While the dough is similar to that of a bagel, the pretzel's unique shape and the alkaline solution used during boiling create a distinctively crisp exterior and a dense, chewy interior.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.