What does bagel mean?
A bagel is a dense, ring-shaped bread roll distinguished by being boiled in water before baking, which produces its characteristically chewy interior and glossy crust. Originating in the Jewish communities of Central and Eastern Europe, it was carried to North America by Ashkenazi immigrants and became an iconic food of New York City, where it is traditionally paired with cream cheese, smoked salmon (lox), and capers. Bagels are now widely available across North America and beyond, sold plain or topped with sesame seeds, poppy seeds, salt, onion, or garlic — the combination known as 'everything'. Beyond cuisine, 'bagel' also serves as informal slang in racket sports for a set won 6–0, named for the zero's resemblance to the bread's shape. Simple, portable, and endlessly adaptable, the bagel occupies a firm place both in everyday breakfast culture and in the culinary identity of the diaspora that popularized it.
A dense, ring-shaped bread roll made by boiling the dough before baking, traditionally associated with Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine.
"The bakery sells out of fresh bagels by ten o'clock most mornings."
(Informal, in tennis) a set won 6–0.
"He handed his opponent a bagel in the second set."
Sporting slang; often extended to 'double bagel' for a 6–0, 6–0 match.
Standard plural; used for both the food item and the tennis score sense ('a double bagel' refers to two such sets).
"We ordered six poppy-seed bagels for Sunday brunch."
A bagel is boiled before it's baked — that brief hot-water bath is exactly what gives it its signature shiny crust and satisfyingly chewy bite.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bagel
The word 'bagel' comes from Yiddish beygl, of uncertain further origin, possibly related to Middle High German boug- meaning 'ring' or 'bracelet', referring to the bread's shape. Bagels were eaten by Jewish communities in Poland and elsewhere in Eastern Europe by the early 17th century, and were brought to the United States by Ashkenazi Jewish immigrants in the late 19th century, becoming firmly established through New York City's bakery culture. Related ring-shaped breads include the pretzel and various European ring rolls, reflecting a shared tradition of shaped festive breads.
Usage notes
Informal to neutral in register. The food sense is universal in American English and common elsewhere; the tennis sense is informal sporting slang. In North America, bagels are strongly associated with New York City style, though Montreal-style bagels are a distinct regional tradition — smaller, sweeter, and denser.
Don't confuse with
Brioche is a soft, rich French bread made with butter and eggs, whereas a bagel is a dense, boiled-then-baked ring-shaped roll.