Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cuillère | /kɥi.jɛʁ/ | feminine |
| cuiller | /kɥi.jɛʁ/ | feminine, alternative form |
A spoon is a scooped utensil used for eating or serving. While cuillère is the general term, you can be more specific about the type of spoon by adding a descriptor. For example, cuillère à soupe specifically refers to a tablespoon and cuillère à café is used specifically for a teaspoon. Additionally, une petite cuillère can be used to mean a teaspoon.
Which one should you use?
cuillère is the standard spelling, while cuiller is an alternative spelling of the same word. In terms of specific types, cuillère is the general category, whereas cuillère à soupe is a tablespoon and cuillère à café is a teaspoon.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both cuillère and cuiller are feminine nouns. The plural form of cuillère is cuillères. To express the amount held by a spoon, you can use the word cuillerée to mean a spoonful.
How do you pronounce it?
/kɥi.jɛʁ/
Did you know?
- The word cuillère is actually a linguistic descendant of the Latin word for 'snail', cochlea, because the shape of the spoon's bowl resembles a snail shell.
- In French, the phrase mettre sa cuillère dans la soupe is not about eating, but is an idiom used to describe someone interfering in a situation or joining a project already in progress.
- To describe the act of cuddling while lying on your side, the French use the phrase faire la cuillère.
Examples in context
- Il y a une cuiller.There is a spoon.This sentence shows the use of cuiller to state that a spoon exists.Tatoeba #10491764 by Julien_PDC, translation #3603006 by Jesse
- La cuillère est sale.The spoon is dirty.This sentence uses cuillère to describe the condition of a spoon.Tatoeba #11444355 by sacredceltic, translation #2730948 by Hybrid
- La cuiller est tordue.The spoon is bent.This sentence uses cuiller to describe a spoon that is bent.Tatoeba #10491761 by Julien_PDC, translation #9123719 by Missy_Hissy
- Pourriez-vous me passer une cuillère, s'il vous plaît?Could you pass me a spoon, please?
- 59 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At the dinner table, Chloé is helping Nathan set the table.
- NathanOù est la cuillère pour la soupe ?Where is the spoon for the soup?
- ChloéElle est dans le tiroir, Nathan.It is in the drawer, Nathan.
- NathanJe ne vois pas de cuillère ici.I don't see a spoon here.
- ChloéRegarde bien, elle est juste là.Look closely, it is right there.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “spoon” translations and entries cuillère, cuiller, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuillère, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
