How to pronounce pretzel
Say it like PRET-zul. Pretzel has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PRET).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce pretzel. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PRET
- zul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pretzel pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PRETSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- zulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of pretzel
American and British speakers say pretzel in essentially the same way: /ˈprɛtzəl/ in the US and /ˈprɛtzəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: PRET-zul.
What does pretzel mean?
- A toasted bread or cracker usually in the shape of a loose knot.
- Anything that is knotted, twisted, or tangled.
- To bend, twist, or contort.“They discovered a snake pretzelled into knots.”
Where does pretzel come from?
From dialectal German Pretzel, a variant of standard Brezel, from Old High German brēzitella, from Vulgar Latin *brāchiātellus, diminutive of Latin brāchium, bracchium (“arm”); named for the appearance of folded arms.
Questions about saying pretzel
How do you pronounce pretzel?
Say PRET-zul. The American pronunciation is /ˈprɛtzəl/. In British English it is /ˈprɛtzəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pretzel?
Pretzel has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PRET). Broken into parts: PRET · zul.
Do Americans and Brits say pretzel the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈprɛtzəl/ and the British form is /ˈprɛtzəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.