Etymology

From Middle High German knobelouch, with dissimilation from Old High German chlobalouh. The latter part of the word is, of course, Lauch ‎(“leek”). The first part originally pertains to klieben ‎(“to cleave”), but was later adapted to the large group of terms for thick objects beginning with kn- (cf. Knopf, Knoten, Knolle, etc.). The same in Dutch knoflook.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈknoːpˌlaʊ̯x/ (official standard)
• IPA^(key): /ˈknoːˌblaʊ̯x/ (more common)