cuillère à soupe
/kɥi.jɛ.ʁ‿a sup/
The English phrase "tablespoon" is cuillère à soupe in French.
cuillère à soupe is a unit of measure. You can specify the shape of the measurement by using une cuillère à soupe bombée for a heaping tablespoon or une cuillère à soupe rase for a level tablespoon.
Meaning: a unit of measure (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "spoon for soup".
Which one should you use?
While cuillère à soupe refers to a tablespoon, the term cuillère à café is used to mean a teaspoon.
How does it change in a sentence?
To form the plural cuillères à soupe, add an 's' to the end of the noun cuillère. The à soupe portion of the phrase does not change in the plural form.
How do you pronounce it?
/kɥi.jɛ.ʁ‿a sup/. The word has 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- The word cuillère shares its distant roots with the word for 'snail', because the Latin term cochlea referred to both a spoon and a snail shell.
- While cuillère à soupe is used for cooking, French speakers use the term cuillère à table when referring specifically to the piece of cutlery used during a meal.
- While cuillère à soupe is the standard measure, some older French recipes use the term cuillère à pot to refer to a much larger ladle-sized scoop.
Examples in context
- Cette cuillère est une cuillère à soupe.This spoon is a tablespoon.This sentence is useful for identifying that the object is a cuillère à soupe.Tatoeba #1805118 by martin9, translation #10631234 by samir_t
- Une cuillère à soupe ou à café ?A tablespoon or a teaspoon?This sentence is useful for distinguishing between a cuillère à soupe and a teaspoon.Tatoeba #11660836 by carlosalberto, translation #11660762 by carlosalberto
- Dans cette recette, ajoutez trois cuillères à soupe d'huile d'olive.In this recipe, add three tablespoons of olive oil.
- Ajoutez une cuillère à soupe de farineAdd one tablespoon of flour
- J'utilise trois cuillères à soupe d'ail hachéI use three tablespoons of minced garlic
- Ajoutez une cuillère à soupe bombée de sucre.Add a heaping tablespoon of sugar.
- Ajoute une cuillère à soupe de sucre.Add a tablespoon of sugar.
Example conversation
Léa and Hugo are following a recipe in the kitchen.
- LéaIl faut une cuillère à soupe de farine.We need a tablespoon of flour.
- HugoJe la cherche dans le tiroir.I am looking for it in the drawer.
- LéaEst-ce que tu l'as trouvée ?Did you find it?
- HugoOui, la voilà.Yes, here it is.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry cuillère à soupe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuillère, soupe, à, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
