noun
dumpling
B1
Knödel: a German/Austrian dumpling (often bread or potato) served as a side or main. Noun: der Knödel; plural unchanged: die Knödel. Declension irregularities: genitive singular des Knödels, dative plural den Knödeln. Useful culinary term; not a verb or reflexive. Common in Bavaria and Austria, with savory or sweet variations.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.EXAMPLES
Auf dem Teller lagen zwei große Knödel.
There were two large dumplings on the plate.
In Bayern isst man gerne Knödel als Beilage.
In Bavaria, people like to eat dumplings as a side dish.
Die Großmutter kochte Knödel, weil die Familie Besuch erwartete.
The grandmother cooked dumplings because the family was expecting guests.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.DETAILS_LABEL
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.MNEMONICS
Imagine a round dumpling sitting on a wooden plate, steaming — the 'ö' looks like a little steam curl over the dumpling.
knee-odd-el (think 'knee' + 'odd' + 'el' — helps recall the 'Knö-' sound)
der (masculine) — picture a male chef proudly presenting a plate of dumplings.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.NOTES
Knödel are a common dish in German-speaking regions with many local varieties (e.g., Semmelknödel, Kartoffelknödel). Plural is usually identical to singular: die Knödel.