Potatoes were introduced to Europe in the 16th century by Spanish explorers, and potato gnocchi became a popular dish soon after. Gnocchi originated in Northern Italy, where the climate was better for growing potatoes than grain. The word "gnocchi" may come from the Italian word “nocchio” (nokkio), which means "a knot in wood", or from “nocca” (nokka), which means "knuckle".