קנאָבל
knobl/ˈknɔbɫ̩/
Garlic in Yiddish is קנאָבל (knobl).
The word קנאָבל refers to the garlic plant.
Meaning: plant (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Polish Yiddish, the term czosnek is used for garlic.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is knobl. The IPA is /ˈknɔbɫ̩/.
Did you know?
- In some Jewish folk traditions, קנאָבל was believed to have protective properties beyond cooking and was used as a medicinal charm to ward off sickness.
- The Yiddish word קנאָבל is a shortened version of קנאָבליך, likely because speakers mistook the ending for a plural diminutive suffix.
- The Yiddish word קנאָבל is a linguistic cousin to the Swabian German word Knobl, as both underwent a similar accidental shortening over time.
Examples in context
- דו שמעקסט מיט קנאָבל.You smell like garlic.This sentence shows how to describe smelling of קנאָבל.Tatoeba #12159734 by shekitten, translation #12140852 by shekitten
- צו פֿיל קנאָבל עקסיסטירט נישט.There's no such thing as too much garlic.This sentence illustrates the expression that there is no such thing as too much קנאָבל.Tatoeba #11136114 by shekitten, translation #9289002 by shekitten
- איך גלייב אַז איך האָב געניצט צו פֿיל קנאָבל.I think I used too much garlic.This sentence is useful for stating that one may have used too much קנאָבל.Tatoeba #12149513 by shekitten, translation #9158888 by shekitten
Example conversation
Yitzhak and Miriam are cooking dinner together.
- יצחק Yitzchakמרים, האָסטו שוין געשניטן דעם קנאָבל?Miryam, hostu shoyn geshnitn dem knobl?Miriam, have you already chopped the garlic?
- מרים Miriamניין, איך האָב נישט געפֿונען קיין קנאָבל.Neyn, ikh hob nisht gefunen keyn knobl.No, I didn't find any garlic.
- יצחק Yitzchakעס איז דאָ קנאָבל אין דעם שופֿה.Es iz do knobl in dem shufe.There is garlic in the cupboard.
- מרים Miriamאָה, איך זע עס יעצט, ייבאַך!Ah, ikh ze es yetst, yibakh!Oh, I see it now, thanks!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “garlic” translations and entries קנאָבל, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries קנאָבל, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
